Public transport in South Korea

Last updated

Public transport in South Korea, which is widely used, includes buses, subways, and bicycles. Public transportation includes all transportation facilities and means that provide transportation services for the general public. The range of public transportation is wide, including air, sea, and roads. Along with the rapid growth of Korea, public transportation has also developed to facilitate people's movement.

Contents

Background

After the Industrial Revolution, people began to flock to the city center. Factories began to sprout around the city. People working in factories settled around them, and industrial activity increased at a rapid pace. As the industry continued to develop, people gradually left the countryside and came to work in industrial cities, as poverty began to strike in rural areas. In 1970, around half of the population of Seoul, one of South Korea's most industrial cities, had moved to it only in the prior decade. [1] With the rapid increase of people traveling across the country, a means of transporting large groups of people was needed. Public transportation such as trams and railways was installed for these people to move quickly. These people naturally settled in close proximity to jobs or near easy-to-move stations. The concentration of population in large cities continued and more transportation was needed to move these people.

The development of industry and automobile technology in the 1960s [2] [3] led to a growing number of people having private cars, mainly in advanced countries such as Europe. The number of cars has more than doubled in Europe in a decade. People can go anywhere, anytime by car. Even now, the demand for cars continues to grow. Increased demand for cars has also helped ease the population's downtown concentration. This is because you can buy a cheap house in a relatively remote area that was difficult to access by public transportation and travel by car. At first, residential areas were formed in the center of the city, and the size of the city grew as the concentric circle grew from the center. Of course, new roads had to be built and intersections, circular roads and highways had to be built to accommodate the growing number of cars. In other words, transportation systems such as private cars and road expansion have been developed to speed up travel time. The problem of environmental pollution is also a reason why public transportation has developed. The car's fuel is consumed and pollutants such as nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons and dust due to incomplete combustion are also released. By the 1990s, cars also emitted sulfur dioxide. [4]

Bus

Korea Bus Ansan Bus Route 33.jpg
Korea Bus
Card terminal in bus ibikadeu danmalgi.jpg
Card terminal in bus

Background

Buses are one of the most popular means of transportation in South Korea. There are different types of buses, including city buses, intercity buses, and express buses.

Fares

Bus fares vary depending on the type of bus, the method of payment, and the age of the passenger. [5] Passengers pay the right fare by placing their transportation card, which they can fill with money prior, on a card terminal. Among the various types (mainly classified according to distance traveled), there is a separate application for bus booking. The app has a simple payment function and passengers can quickly make a reservation, choosing a boarding date and seat. There are machines at bus stops that allow passengers to check their remaining balance on their transportation cards. In addition, the arrival time and remaining seats of the buses at the bus stop in question are displayed on the electronic display board. Passengers can determine the arrival time of a bus on various transportation applications. [6]

Subway

Subway line 2 in Seoul, Korea Seoul Metro Line 2 train arriving at Guro Digital Complex (2-09).jpg
Subway line 2 in Seoul, Korea
a subway map of the metropolitan area Seoul subway linemap ko.svg
a subway map of the metropolitan area

Background

Subways are also an extremely popular means of transportation. The biggest advantage of subways compared to other means of transportation is that it can handle a larger number of people per hour. Subways are able to hold a larger number of people per hour is because it uses a dedicated railroad. However, it takes a lot of time and money to build a subway infrastructure. Construction costs are covered by taxes from local governments, the central government, companies, and passengers.

Safety

The South Korean subway system is generally safe. However, it requires more caution than other public transportation in terms of derailment, power outage, tunnel collapse, and collision, and so the subway has many safety technologies. Screen doors are installed at all stations to prevent the train from crashing into the tracks. Through the use of double track, frontal collisions are extremely rare and reduce the risk of rear-end collisions and derailments by lowering the speed of operation. It is possible for fires to occur, and so the system provides places for evacuation.

Fares

Subways use a similar system for fares as the buses. Passengers can pay with the same transportation cards and subway stations also have machines that are used to refill their balances. When transferring from a line to another, passengers are not required to pay another fare as long as they transfer within a certain time limit (which differs by different regions). This transfer system is also valid when riding buses.

Bicycle

Background

In Korea, there is a record that Seo Jae-pil [7] first introduced bicycles in 1895 after returning from the U.S. in the 1890s and toured the construction site of Independence Gate. At that time, it was called a wheelbarrow, but the government named it Bicycle in the 1903s.

When other public transportation is crowded, office workers often use bicycles as a faster transportation method when commuting. As the number of bicycle riders increased, almost every part of the country also built bike lanes. Bicycle-only roads are mainly accessible, and are designed to reduce the contact accidents between pedestrians and bicycles. [8]

Social Benefits

There are many bicycle clubs in South Korea, as many people enjoy riding bicycles as a leisure activity. Many join bicycle clubs so they can build a bond between people and live a healthier life. However, there are growing calls for improvement as they are driving on motorways rather than bicycle lanes, and are feared to cause contact accidents between bicycles and cars.

Problems

Preface

The South Korean public transportation system is very advanced, with its capital Seoul being "often ranked as having one of the best public transportation systems in the world. It can be seen as operating in systems that are easy to understand, having clean facilities, being timely, providing services like free wifi, etc. [9] Nonetheless, it still has its issues.

Frequent Transfers

Many have noted having to transfer too often as a problem in public transportation, believing it was necessary to reduce the travel time, or distance, in urban and residential areas as much as possible. [10] Therefore, urban lawmakers also plan to deploy the existing mega-sized complex centers on a small scale and deploy residential and commercial facilities in various places.

Inclusion of Taxis

In South Korea, public transportation methods and facilities, like buses and railroad stations, receive financial support from the government. Not included in the list are taxis. Some South Koreans argue that taxi drivers should be included in public transportation even if they do not have regular connections due to the nature of taxis. [11] On the other hand, other South Koreans disagree and express their opinions that what is considered the current means of public transportation should be maintained.

Some members of the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea [12] proposed a bill to include taxis [13] in the scope of public transportation in 2012, but bus drivers and operators decided to suspend the operation of buses in Korea in protest. In addition, the bill was opposed by the South Korean government. In April 2023, another bill has been put forward to include taxis in the group of public transportation methods. [14]

Accommodations

Public transportation in South Korea lack accommodations for people with disabilities. For buses, there are low floor buses with low footrest heights and though they have increased in number compared to the past, they are still lacking. There are some areas where low-floor buses have difficulty running, making people who use them face difficulty when traveling to those areas. [15] For subways, there are elevators and spaces for wheelchairs to help people with disabilities travel, however these places are often crowded and used by other passengers as well. Even for taxis (which are still being debated on being a part of public transportation), people with disabilities must reserve priorly to ride a taxi, and even then, usually have to wait a long time before it arrives. The lack of accommodations in the transportation system also has a social effect, as it has affected the number of people with disabilities who leave their homes to travel. [16]

Accidents

Bus

Drowsy driving is more prevalent than expected among the causes of accidents. There are also various types of accidents, such as hitting a person on the road, sliding on a snow road, and falling below a cliff. Buses are likely to be accompanied by casualties in the event of an accident. [17] [18] [19]

Subway

Subway accidents are constant, with its the biggest reason being the aging of the subway. In the case of Seoul, it has been operating the Seoul Metro for about 40 years. Besides aging, there are also traffic errors between subways and lack of safety personnel. [20]

Bicycle

Bicycles are often caused by collisions between people, cars and bicycles. It is expected that people wear helmets when riding a bike, but it is not uncommon to find people who do not. There is also a case of riding a bicycle on a motorway. [21] [22]

Etiquette

In South Korean buses and subways, proper etiquette includes not talking or calling loudly as the systems are used by many other people, keeping the facilities clean, and avoiding the consumption of foods. For safety reasons, passengers board in order and get off in turn. In the subway, the proper system of passengers getting on and off is considered to be waiting for passengers to get off first and then getting on. Younger individuals are expected to give up their seat when the elderly and the weak board on the bus or subway as well. [23] [24] [25]

Related Research Articles

Transportation in South Korea is provided by extensive networks of railways, highways, bus routes, ferry services and air routes that traverse the country. South Korea is the third country in the world to operate a maglev train, which is an automatically run people mover at Incheon International Airport.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Transport in Thailand</span> Overview of transport in Thailand

Transport in Thailand is varied, with no one dominant means of transport. For long distance travel, bus transport dominates. Low-speed rail travel has long been a rural long-distance transport mechanism, though plans are underway to expand services with high-speed rail lines extending to several major regions of Thailand. Road transportation is the primary form of freight transport across the country.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Transportation in Boston</span> Overview of transportation in Boston, Massachusetts, United States

Transportation in Boston includes roadway, subway, regional rail, air, and sea options for passenger and freight transit in Boston, Massachusetts. The Massachusetts Port Authority (Massport) operates the Port of Boston, which includes a container shipping facility in South Boston, and Logan International Airport, in East Boston. The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) operates bus, subway, short-distance rail, and water ferry passenger services throughout the city and region. Amtrak operates passenger rail service to and from major Northeastern cities, and a major bus terminal at South Station is served by varied intercity bus companies. The city is bisected by major highways I-90 and I-93, the intersection of which has undergone a major renovation, nicknamed the Big Dig.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Transport in Barbados</span>

Barbados is a relatively small country with a length of 21 miles (34 km) and a width of 14 miles (23 km). Barbados has 1,600 kilometres (990 mi) of public paved roads, two active marine ports in, remnants of a railway system, and one airport; the Sir Grantley Adams International Airport, located in Christ Church.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rush hour</span> Time of day with peak traffic congestion

A rush hour or peak hour is a part of the day during which traffic congestion on roads and crowding on public transport is at its highest. Normally, this happens twice every weekday: once in the morning and once in the afternoon or evening, the times during which most people commute. The term is often used for a period of peak congestion that may last for more than one hour.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Share taxi</span> Mode of transport which falls between both taxicabs and buses

A share taxi is a mode of transport which falls between a taxicab and a bus. These vehicles for hire are typically smaller than buses and usually take passengers on a fixed or semi-fixed route without timetables, but instead departing when all seats are filled. They may stop anywhere to pick up or drop off their passengers. Often found in developing countries, the vehicles used as share taxis range from four-seat cars to minibuses. They are often owner-operated.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shanghai Metro</span> Metro system in Shanghai, China

The Shanghai Metro (Chinese: 上海地铁; pinyin: Shànghǎi Dìtiě; Shanghainese: Zaon6he5 Di6thiq7) is a rapid transit system in Shanghai, operating urban and suburban transit services to 14 of its 16 municipal districts and to the neighboring township of Huaqiao, in Kunshan, Jiangsu Province.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Intermodal passenger transport</span> Places for travelers to transfer from one category of vehicle to another

Intermodal passenger transport, also called mixed-mode commuting, involves using two or more modes of transportation in a journey. Mixed-mode commuting is often used to combine the strengths of various transportation options. A major goal of modern intermodal passenger transport is to reduce dependence on the automobile as the major mode of ground transportation and increase use of public transport. To assist the traveller, various intermodal journey planners such as Rome2rio and Google Transit have been devised to help travellers plan and schedule their journey.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Transportation in New York City</span> Overview of urban transportation network

The transportation system of New York City is a network of complex infrastructural systems. New York City, being the most populous city in the United States, has a transportation system which includes one of the largest and busiest subway systems in the world; the world's first mechanically ventilated vehicular tunnel; and an aerial tramway. New York City is home to an extensive bus system in each of the five boroughs; citywide and Staten Island ferry systems; and numerous yellow taxis and boro taxis throughout the city. Private cars are less used compared to other cities in the rest of the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">T-money</span> Smartcard payment system in South Korea

T-money is a rechargeable series of smart cards and other "smart" devices used for paying transportation fares in and around Seoul and other areas of South Korea. T-money can also be used in lieu of cash or credit cards in some convenience stores and other businesses. The T-money System has been implemented and is being operated by T-money Co., Ltd of which 34.4% owned by Seoul Special City Government, 31.85% owned by LG CNS, and 15.73% owned by Credit Card Union.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Seoul Subway Line 9</span> Subway line in Seoul, South Korea

Seoul Subway Line 9, operated by Seoul Line9 Operation, is a subway line in Seoul, part of the Seoul Metropolitan Subway. The line runs east from Gaehwa station or Gimpo International Airport station along the south bank of the Han River towards VHS Medical Center in Gangdong. In 2019, Line 9 had an annual ridership of 225 million or about 616,000 people per day.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shinbundang Line</span> Driverless subway line in Gyeonggi-do and Seoul, South Korea

The Shinbundang Line Korean: 신분당선; Hanja: 新盆唐線; literally, New Bundang Line) or DX Line for Dynamic Express Line is a 33.4 km (20.8 mi) long line of the Seoul Metropolitan Subway. It is the world's fifth subway to run completely driverless and the second completely driverless metro line to open in South Korea, after Busan Subway Line 4. It connects Sinsa station and Gwanggyo station in 42 minutes, a feat achieved by being the first line to operate South Korea's next-generation subway car travelling at over 90 km/h (56 mph), with the fastest average speed of any subway line in the country.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Transport in Greater Tokyo</span> Overview of the transportation network in Greater Tokyo

The transport network in Greater Tokyo includes public and private rail and highway networks; airports for international, domestic, and general aviation; buses; motorcycle delivery services, walking, bicycling, and commercial shipping. While the nexus is in the central part of Tokyo, every part of the Greater Tokyo Area has rail or road transport services. There are also a number of ports offering sea and air transport to the general public.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">AREX</span> Airport express rail line in South Korea

AREX is a South Korean airport rail link and commuter rail line that links Incheon International Airport with Seoul Station via Gimpo International Airport. The section between the two airports opened on March 23, 2007, and line was extended to Seoul Station on December 29, 2010. Long-distance Korea Train Express high speed trains started to use the line from June 30, 2014, but discontinued service in March 2018 due to low ridership.

The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to transport:

Seoul, the capital and largest city in South Korea, accounts for only 0.6% of the country's total land area, yet it is home to around 19% of the population. The population density in Seoul demands a great deal of the city's transportation systems, which are regarded by many as among the best and most advanced in the world. Seoul is very well connected by its subway and bus systems, and the city is also very supportive of pedestrian foot travel. In 2006 it won the Sustainable Transport Award.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gwangmyeong Station</span>

Gwangmyeong station (Korean: 광명역) is a train station in Gwangmyeong, South Korea. The station was newly built as a stop of national railway operator Korail's KTX high-speed service, 22.0 km (13.7 mi) south of Seoul Station.

Transport in Shanghai is provided by an extensive network of modes including metro, cycling, bus and taxis, as well as an expansive network of roadways, and airports. Shanghai has invested heavily in public transportation before and after the 2010 World Expo, including the construction of the Hongqiao transportation hub of high-speed rail, air, metro and bus routes.

A fare is the fee paid by a passenger for use of a public transport system: rail, bus, taxi, etc. In the case of air transport, the term airfare is often used. Fare structure is the system set up to determine how much is to be paid by various passengers using a transit vehicle at any given time. A linked trip is a trip from the origin to the destination on the transit system. Even if a passenger must make several transfers during a journey, the trip is counted as one linked trip on the system.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Public transport</span> Shared transportation service for use by the general public

Public transport is a system of transport for passengers by group travel systems available for use by the general public unlike private transport, typically managed on a schedule, operated on established routes, and that may charge a posted fee for each trip. There is no rigid definition of which kinds of transport are included, and air travel is often not thought of when discussing public transport—dictionaries use wording like "buses, trains, etc." Examples of public transport include city buses, trolleybuses, trams and passenger trains, rapid transit and ferries. Public transport between cities is dominated by airlines, coaches, and intercity rail. High-speed rail networks are being developed in many parts of the world.

References

  1. ↑ "Population Change and Development in Korea". Asia Society. Retrieved 2023-12-08.
  2. ↑ Yoon, Kim (2020). "1960s in Korea". National Archives of Korea (in Korean).
  3. ↑ Wile, Rob. "South Korea Looked Just Like North Korea 50 Years Ago [PHOTOS]". Business Insider. Retrieved 2020-06-25.
  4. ↑ Yoon, Kim (2020). "Association between exposure to traffic-related air pollution and pediatric allergic diseases based on modeled air pollution concentrations and traffic measures in Seoul, Korea: a comparative analysis". Environmental Health. 19 (1): 6. Bibcode:2020EnvHe..19....6M. doi: 10.1186/s12940-020-0563-6 . PMC   6961284 . PMID   31937319.
  5. ↑ "행정안전부> 정보공개> 지방물가정보> 가격정보> 지방공공요금".
  6. ↑ "Public Transportation -". Official Website of the. Retrieved 2023-12-08.
  7. ↑ Yoon, Kim (August 18, 2016). Seo Jae-pil(A Leader for Autonomous Independence & Democratic Reformation): Essential Writings: 자주독립 민주개혁의 선구자 서재필 English Edition (Korean Christian Leaders Series Book 12). KIATS; 1 edition.
  8. ↑ Yoon, Kim (2020). "Division of bicycle-only road". Koroad (in Korean).
  9. ↑ "Getting around Seoul is easy for first-timers with these simple tips". Lonely Planet. Retrieved 2023-12-08.
  10. ↑ Yoon, Kim (2020). "Everything you ever wanted to know about the Seoul Metro System but were too afraid to ask".
  11. ↑ Yoon, Kim (2020). "Using Taxis in Korea". Korea4expats.
  12. ↑ Yoon, Kim (2020). "The National Assembly of The Republic of Korea". The National Assembly of The Republic of Korea.
  13. ↑ Yoon, Kim (2020). "Taxi Fares Seoul". Korea4expats.
  14. ↑ 이투데이 (2023-05-01). "택시도 대중교통수단 포함?…대중교통법 개정안 10년 만에 재추진". 이투데이 (in Korean). Retrieved 2023-12-08.
  15. ↑ Yoon, Kim (2020). "Low-floor bus supply 'mountain of problems'(저상버스 보급 '문제 산더미')". 시사위크 (in Korean).
  16. ↑ "[기획] '장애인 이동권'…'장애인'이 안 보이는 '대중교통'". 뉴스엔뷰 (in Korean). 2023-01-11. Retrieved 2023-12-08.
  17. ↑ Yoon, Kim (2020). "Bus accident causes a debate over road rules". Korea Joongang Daily.
  18. ↑ Yoon, Kim (2020). "Bus crash into passenger car kills 1 high school student in Seoul". Yonhap News Agency.
  19. ↑ Yoon, Kim (2020). "2 dead, 16 hurt in Seoul highway bus accident: Report". channelnewsasia.
  20. ↑ Yoon, Kim (2020). "지하철 사고 왜 많은가 했더니, 이런 이유 있었다". Ohmynews (in Korean).
  21. ↑ Yoon, Kim (2020). "No. of deaths in bicycle accidents rises 11.5%". The Korea Herald.
  22. ↑ "South Korea: number of bicycle accidents 2009-2018". Statista. Retrieved 2020-06-25.
  23. ↑ "Seoul subway etiquette". www.hotcoursesabroad.com. Retrieved 2020-06-25.
  24. ↑ "The 10 Commandments of Subway Etiquette In Korea". 10 Magazine Korea. 2016-08-10. Retrieved 2020-06-25.
  25. ↑ Yoon, Kim (2020). "How to use the subway". Seoul Metro.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.