Korean Job Discussion Forums

[charlieDD]

I'm spending a few weeks in NYC, Manhattan. Have had a chance to use the subway system here extensively. I have to say, . . compared to Seoul's subway, the NYC subway system is really third-worldish.

I know it's old - - most lines built around 1900 - - so I can understand the narrowness of the passenger cars and the loudness and roughness of the tracks. But, I can't understand why the subways have to be so dark, dank, in disrepair or have so much garbage in the tracks and stations. Nor why the ticket card system has to be so unreliable.

I know the system has to serve a lot of different kinds of people and this includes those who just don't give a darn about the facilities or equipment and trash the stations and the trains. Still, that doesn't explain why the stations and the trains have to be so dimly lit and why rusting beams aren't painted, peeling paint removed from station ceilings, garbage picked up more frequently from the tracks, etc.

The ticketing system is unreliable: More than once I bought a single ride ticket ( $2 ) from the automated dispenser only to have it not work at the gate. And the automated machines more than once would not accept one or more of its payment options: cash, credit cards, coins, . . or couldn't give change . . or were just broken down. When I bought a one-week pass, it stopped working the very next day. The clerk at the gate showed me how to tweak it a bit to make it work. I saw person after person having trouble getting the "slider" to read their card, backing up the line building up behind them. There is no other system, such as a smart card you can scan from within your wallet, or using your passing your mobile over the reader.

If I had never been on any other subway system in the world, I might just accept that it is the way of subways. But having experienced the subways in Seoul, Hong Kong, and Singapore . . . I know it can be better. And having experienced the older lines of London's tube, I know that older lines can be better presented, and new technologies employed for the payment systems.

So, while we may have our complaints about the subway experience in Korea, . . I think overall, we've got some blessings to count: it is basically reliable, clean and attractive . . and even relatively quite inexpensive. (The London tube will cost you nearly $10 if you don't buy and use an "Oyster" card; and about $4.50 if you do, for a single ride.)

[crsandus]

I've only tried the Seoul, DC, and Paris subways. I liked all of them well enough. If I remember correctly, DC seemed to be the cleanest (at least when I was there last) Paris was the oldest out of the three but it had nice artwork on the walls, and Seoul... it has the quickest old women I've ever seen ready to swipe an empty seat at a moment's notice.

[Sister Ray]

Seoul subway is fantastic. So cheap (makes a huge loss for the city every year,)and very extensive and growing all the time.

However line 2 in the morning always kills me.

[tacon101]

nyc metro may be dirty but they have EXPRESS TRAINS

i go to visit pals in nyc all the time, and the only trouble i ever had with the metro cards was keeping up with them

reliable, clean, (not un) attractive, and packed to the max with kimchi sweating, soju breathing koreans and those loud ones trying to sell crap

[mindmetoo]

Yeah no complaint about the subways here. Just avoid the end doors where the old ladies rush into to get their seats and you're fine.

[RACETRAITOR]

Comparatively I don't have any complaints about the subway here. I've been on the New York subway and remember it being pretty dank. But the Korean system is much newer, and Koreans themselves are generally cleaner people.

[davai!]

the NYC subway rocks!

ditto on the express trains

very happy to see that you can now use your express card on PATH

the new JFK train doesn't suck either

credit card modules in the stations

the best - the distance between street and train is minimal, often no more
than a flight of stairs and 10 steps.

once moved a couch from E. 97th and 2nd to 50th and 8th on the subway at 3am!

[rothkowitz]

NYC express trains do thankfully get you places pretty quick.They can be a bit worrisome-I remember(1994) there was a kind of code with the lamps for whether the exits were monitored or not.Fair share of oddballs.

Tokyo-can get expensive with transferring lines.Shinjuku was confusing-so darn big and the English signage would run out at the most inopportune times.Generally Ok.Not so different to here-just price and scale.Onboard pretty stress free.Loved the "Romance Train" going into Tokyo on the Yokosuna(?)line-can smoke and drink.Nice.

London-even more expensive without a year pass.OK enough.You sure do go down deep......

Seoul-cheap,clean enough,direct line from Bundang to jeongja will be good.As will the line to Incheon airport.I think I have some of my best reading time on the trains here.

Please though,you can turn the heating off now.It's spring.

[Woland]

The subway here is great. But I also love the el in Chicago, where you get a view as you ride. I am disappointed that the price has gone up everytime I'm back there, though.

[Vancouver]

I miss the Seoul subway T.T It was great. Vancouver trains are small. They suck when it snows, they're not wide enough, they're dirty too. Seoul subway floors look clean enough to sit on. from my exp. at least. Btw, do some of the trains have tv's? I remember tv's in the in train in daejeon. I wish Vancouver's train system was as good as Seoul's. And i wish we had 포장마차 at the stations

[matthews_world]

[qcat79]

i can vouch that seoul's and busan's subway systems are a hell lot better than Atlanta's (MARTA). that system blows.

[Sister Ray]

[rothkowitz]

It's an appropiate measure in the circumstances so as to keep the domestic economy ticking along.

[huffdaddy]