The South Korean Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport has mandated the installation of surveillance cameras in train cabs to monitor driver operations, under the rationale that such measures will aid in accident investigations and prevention. While this might seem reasonable at first glance, experts suggest that this approach does not enhance railway safety. The evolution of railway safety has shifted from punishing individuals for mistakes to designing systems that prevent human errors from leading to serious accidents, recognizing that mistakes are inherent in human behavior.

Historically, railway safety has improved by evolving the system to accommodate human errors rather than expecting flawless performance from individuals. Modern safety measures have bolstered signaling, train control, vehicle maintenance, and track infrastructure, particularly with the introduction of high-speed trains in South Korea, leading to significant reductions in major accidents. However, relying on monitoring train drivers through cameras could dangerously refocus attention on individual actions, potentially obscuring the broader systemic issues that can lead to accidents.

The argument against using surveillance cameras is that they may not contribute to proactive accident investigations; essential data relating to the operations and communications of trains is already captured by existing systems akin to black boxes. Furthermore, the constant pressure of being monitored can negatively impact a driver's cognitive functions, focus, and decision-making process in critical moments. Thus, experts suggest that enhancing railway safety would be better served by strengthening the overall safety systems rather than scrutinizing individual drivers under constant observation.