Risk-based railway safety management has been mandatory in Korea as by relevant laws and regulations enacted since the Railway Safety Act 2004. In particular, the Railway Vehicle Safety Guidance came into effect on Jan 1, 2008 specifies the details of methodology for hazard analysis, risk assessment and safety verification and validation. Fundamentals for success of the risk-based safety management are systematic hazard identification and risk assessment by use of reasonable risk assessment criteria, but the principle of risk-based safety management has not been applied in an effective way to introduction and maintenance of railway vehicle systems because definite risk assessment criteria have not been set down for each railway system or railway network. The purpose of this study is to suggest a risk matrix development principle for risk assessment of domestic urban metro vehicles by analyses of relevant rules and railway operating environment of Korea.