Transport in South Korea
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.
[2] Construction of the Gyeongbu Expressway, which connects the two major cities of Seoul and Busan, was completed on 7 July 1970.
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.
The Subway system was built in Seoul, the highway network was expanded by 487 km and major port projects were started in Pohang, Ulsan, Masan, Incheon and Busan.
[2] The development of industry and automobile technology in the 1960s[4][5] led to a growing number of people having private cars, mainly in advanced countries such as Europe.
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.
In other words, transportation systems such as private cars and road expansion have been developed to speed up travel time.
The car's fuel is consumed and pollutants such as nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons and dust due to incomplete combustion are also released.
Expressway network was expanded to connect more major cities and reached a combined length of 1,539 kilometers before the end of the decade.
[7] (Stopped its service) South Korea's six largest cities — Seoul, Busan, Daegu, Gwangju, Daejeon and Incheon — all have subway systems.
The network was expanded to cover the whole downtown area (Jung-gu and Jongno-gu districts) as well as surrounding neighbourhoods, including Cheongnyangni in the east, Mapo-gu in the west, and Noryangjin across the Han River to the south.
Incheon International Airport is served by an extensive network of high-speed buses from all parts of the country.
[9] However, most churches, daycare centres and private schools send buses around to pick up their congregants, patients or pupils.
The app has a simple payment function and passengers can quickly make a reservation, choosing a boarding date and seat.
[11] In South Korea, public transportation methods and facilities, like buses and railroad stations, receive financial support from the government.
[12] 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.
In April 2023, another bill has been put forward to include taxis in the group of public transportation methods.
[16] 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.
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.
Bicycle-only roads are mainly accessible, and are designed to reduce the contact accidents between pedestrians and bicycles.
Virtually cut off from the Asian mainland, South Korea is a seafaring nation, with one of the world's largest shipbuilding industries and an extensive system of ferry services.
South Korea operates one of the largest merchant fleets serving China, Japan and the Middle East.
Major centres for ferry service include Incheon, Mokpo, Pohang and Busan, as well as China and Japan.
[22] A second carrier, Asiana Airlines, was established in 1988 and originally served Seoul, Jeju and Busan domestically and Bangkok, Singapore, Japan and Los Angeles internationally.
Along other routes, air travel competes with the KTX high speed rail service and has declined in the 2000s and 2010s.
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.
Younger individuals are expected to give up their seat when the elderly and the weak board on the bus or subway as well.
