According to witnesses , one train was hit from the rear by another incoming train while leaving Sangwangsimni station in the east of Seoul . Another witness said many passengers forced the doors open and escaped onto the tracks after ignoring the onboard announcement which told them to stay inside the cars . The decision by many passengers to ignore instructions was likely due to distrust in authorities after the Sinking of MV Sewol and Daegu subway fire , where instructions to remain onboard resulted in several fatalities
Daegu subway fire
Daegu subway fire
2014 Seoul subway crash