Seoul, South Korea
#00148
SuccessCity
Case study of
#00151 Install full-height platform screen doors to seal the track edge
Implementer
Seoul Metropolitan Subway operators
Location
Seoul, South Korea37.5665, 126.9780
Description
Platform screen doors were installed across Seoul metropolitan subway stations and evaluated using 10 years of monthly data from 121 stations with Poisson regression. Full-height PSDs achieved near-complete elimination of subway suicides by blocking track access. Half-height barriers were less effective because individuals could climb over, leading to an explicit recommendation for full-height designs.
Metrics
1Fatal subway suicides after PSD installationpre-PSD rate-89% (95% CI 57–97%)% change
Lessons learned
- Full-height PSDs can eliminate platform suicides; half-height barriers underperform because they can be climbed over — barrier height is a critical design parameter.
- A 10-year monthly panel across 121 stations provides the evidentiary basis; replicators should plan longitudinal data collection from the outset to evaluate impact.
Sources
1Documented Jul 13, 2026