Revised passenger transport rules bar products exceeding 160Wh

E-bikes, electric scooters and other lithium-powered personal mobility devices also prohibited

Violators face a 10,000-won surcharge and will be denied boarding

A visual showing the size of a large-capacity lithium battery exceeding 160Wh. [Seoul Metro]
A visual showing the size of a large-capacity lithium battery exceeding 160Wh. [Seoul Metro]

Large-capacity lithium batteries will be banned from Seoul subway stations starting July 1, along with personal mobility devices powered by lithium batteries.

Seoul Metro announced Thursday that it has revised its passenger transport regulations to enhance passenger safety, with the new rules taking effect July 1. Seoul becomes the second city in the country to ban large-capacity lithium batteries from its subway system, after Busan.

Under the revised regulations (Article 35, Prohibited Carry-on Items), passengers will no longer be permitted to bring into stations any lithium battery-powered vehicles — including electric bicycles, electric scooters and electric unicycles — or any lithium battery with a capacity exceeding 160Wh. Mobility aids such as electric wheelchairs used by passengers with disabilities are exempt. Passengers found carrying prohibited batteries will be charged a surcharge of 10,000 won ($7) and denied boarding. Seoul Metro said all transit operators in the Greater Seoul area, including those on Line 1, plan to ban large-capacity lithium batteries starting July 1.

Concerns over battery fire incidents have grown as the use of lithium batteries in electric scooters, e-bikes and portable power banks has surged nationwide. Battery-related accidents on the subway have continued: in September last year, smoke from an electric scooter battery brought aboard by a passenger at Hapjeong Station forced trains on Lines 2 and 6 to pass through without stopping. This year, four separate incidents involving passengers' portable power banks have already occurred.

Unlike ordinary fires, lithium battery fires are difficult to extinguish in their early stages due to internal thermal runaway and carry a high risk of reignition, making especially careful management necessary in subways used by large numbers of people.

Seoul Metro pursued the regulatory revision after obtaining legal opinions from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and other relevant authorities, taking into account the rise in personal mobility device use and lithium battery fire incidents. The capacity threshold was set by adopting international aviation safety standards for lithium batteries.

The 160Wh limit is equivalent to roughly 43,000mAh in terms of the portable power banks commonly used with smartphones. Standard power banks in the 10,000mAh to 20,000mAh range remain permitted, though battery capacity varies by product and model, so passengers are advised to check the capacity label on their devices. Most electronics people carry daily — smartphones, tablets, laptops and ordinary portable power banks — fall below 160Wh and are not subject to the restriction.

Seoul Metro President Kim Tae-gyun said lithium batteries are an essential part of daily life, but that their greater danger and difficulty to extinguish compared with ordinary fires made proactive management necessary. "This measure is a preventive safety step to create a safer subway environment, and we ask for your understanding and cooperation as the new rules take effect," he said.


cook@heraldcorp.com