My Favorite Things About Korea, Part 2: The Subways

Speeding Along...

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For those that didn't read the previous post, this series of “Favorite Things” is a number of posts dedicated to the little quirks and standouts of Korea that really make living here more enjoyable. Yesterday, I did a little spotlight on my first of favorites in Korea, the elevators, in all their smooth and responsive goodness. This is my mini-diary of features that I like pointing out and examining for future reference and ongoing pride.

So onto the next!

Sometimes I Just Want to be Subterranean

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• A work of beauty. Source: Seoul Sublet

Everyone knows that subways in East Asia are just sublime – new, sleek, safe, punctual, spacious, timely, well-kept, organized, orderly, fast, and overall awesome. The expansive and fairly symmetrical on in Seoul for example is continuously growing and improving, one actually opening up just recently near my family's apartment in the suburbs. But besides the tech and futuristic experience, the little design details and quirks really make it memorable and fun to use every day.

• Source: Leighton Literature

1- Built in wifi. It's not just some routers that broadcast through a few stations. These geniuses actually installed emitters on the interiors of each car. That means if you have a particular national carrier service, you can access free hi-speed wifi at any point of the ride. This is why you see so many commuters streaming Korean dramas on the way to and from work.

2- Numbered car doors. Each subway train stops according to designated openings for passengers to board and disembark. These are marked by numbers, both inside the car and at the corresponding part of the platform. This means that you can tell a friend coming in from another station to stand in a particular car at a particular door and if you wait in the designated spot of the upcoming platform, you'll meet face to face. It's as perfectly synchronized as it sounds.

3- Numbered station entrances. This isn't part of the subway car but an integral and noteworthy part of the infrastructure. Any subway stop will have several to potentially over a dozen entrances that can span several hundred meters above ground. As such, it isn't good enough to just say “meet me at ___ station” or direct people to a station without an exit plan. To solve this, each exist is numbered and you always have to specify “____ station, exit X.” The numbers show up on Google maps and everything.

• Source: deviant art

4- Warmed seats. You see this tech in some American subways as well but it's seriously like a hi-end lounge chair at times. In the harsh winters, they up the heat on these benches to make your commute super cozy.

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Sure, things can get a bit crowded at times but all these little components make the daily grind that much more bearable and for me, coming from the grungy depths of the New York metro, all of this is an experience to savor.

Steem on!