Korean Job Discussion Forums

[bookemdanno]

All aboard!

Recently I've begun taking the KTX with my wife from Seoul outbound and back. She started noticing that few of the passengers were putting their tickets into the slots for the turnstyles, either walking around them or through them, since they didn't seem to be on.

We notice attendants near the escalators leading down to the train platform too but have seldom seen them taking tickets or otherwise interacting with passengers.

And the attendants near the entrances to the cars seem not to check tickets either. Some of the cars don't even have an attendant.

Once inside, we've never been approached by an attendant to show our tickets even though we sometimes sit where we feel comfortable, that is, not our assigned seating. Even though this calls attention to us we've never been asked.

We've seen attendants going back and forth through the cars but it seems few are taking headcounts, if any, though they do carry walkie-talkies.

Often we see passengers walking quickly through various cars but usually as the train approaches a station.

Nor does anyone take your tickets when you disembark.

Which begs the question:

How does the KTX operator know people have a ticket to ride? Do they care? Are freeloaders common? Are the fines for this so stiff that few dare to transgress? Or is it an honor system? Given the cost, it seems unlikely.

And another odd thing: we get a discount coupon from my university but we've been assessed different amounts each time we've ridden.

Seriously, what gives?

[bookemdanno]

So we're imagining all this?

[Diana X2]

it's true, ostensibly it would be really easy to skip fare on any of the trains, especially depending on what your destination station is.... some of them don't even have electronic turnstiles for you to deposit your ticket into, just a box to drop it in as you exit.... i for one always pay just because there's no such thing as a free ride, and i will also say that occasionally they will do random ticket checks on board. i've seen it happen. and apparently there is a penalty fee of 3x the ticket price if you are found on board without a ticket.

[CentralCali]

The checks really aren't that random on the KTX. The attendants carry a hand-held computer which shows them which seats are supposed to be occupied or vacant for each car. If you're sitting in an unassigned seat, they'll know and ask you to present your ticket.

[tzechuk]

[cisco kid]

Thought about this thread today. Coming back from Pusan, two rows in front of us - the ONLY loud and obnoxious group of 4 girls (20's) were in those seats that face each other...about 3/4 of the way to Seoul, a ticketing agent approached them with an electronic meter in her hand and started talking to them. Wife said they admitted that there were 4 girls and only three of them had tickets. The one without a ticket had to buy one + pay a penalty. Everyone was staring at them...you could see their embarrassment -classic! We enjoyed the show...hahahaha

[bookemdanno]

Well, my question is now moot. Last week we took the KTX and lo and behold for the first time we were both asked for our tickets by a male conductor, which of course we produced. Several other passengers were also asked in what seemed to be more or less random fashion.

Still, it seems like it's a hit or miss proposition and I have yet to see a salaryman "carded."

Anyway, thanks to all for your sincere input.

[diver]