110 Cultural Artifact #4

[Rachel Lim]

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1VABg3uLZEEK6ukhOl80HBz0rG6A-Nu8G2BVK9HY9v3A/edit?usp=sharing

[Tommy Na]

Hi Rachel, thank you for sharing as I really enjoyed reading about your transportation in Korea cultural post! I personally was born in America but went to Korea for extended periods of time as young as 2 years old and when I was 8-9 years old and remember having used transportation which was very modernized and convenient when I last went. I can only imagine how much more it has improved and gotten faster since and I am inclined to think even more so after reading your post! It definitely is eye-opening how different the culture for transportation is between western countries like the US that are more focused on profit and gain and countries like South Korea that optimize public transportation and make it better for all!

[Jiwon Kang]

Hey Rachel! I really enjoyed reading your cultural post about transportation in Korea. I was born in Korea but moved to America when I was three so I was never able to remember any of the stuff in Korea. But I visited when I was in middle school and I remember that the subway was very clean and organized. They would announce the destinations and each stops in a variety of languages so everyone could understand them. The transportation system in Korea is most definitely one of the best in the world in my opinion. It's so different from like the subways in New York for sure.

[Eden Kim]

Hi Rachel! I’m so glad I read this post! I will be living in Korea in the fall, so I will definitely be using a lot of public transportation. Since I grew up in a suburb, I am very unfamiliar with public transportation in general. I didn’t know that there were seats reserved for elders or pregnant women in Korea. I’m glad I’m learning this now! I also see the connection between taking public transportation and having more time for other things, such as studying. That definitely reflects the high achievement aspect of Korean culture. Thanks for sharing!

[Susmita Adhikari]

Rachel, you did a fantastic job of connecting South Korea’s transportation system to the social etiquettes, attitude towards work, and its role in development of the country after the Korean war. I had never heard about the public transportation app before, but it sounds fantastic! Few years ago, I tried using Google maps to navigate public transportation in the US and it was terrible- nothing was integrated. That made me realize how hard it is for people to use public transportation here. And, the US is all about profiting off the car sales, resales market, and car insurance market. So, there seems to be no motivation to streamline the public transport options. South Korea’s commitment to public transport sounds amazing, thank you for sharing!

[Amy Jeon]

I found your post on public transportation so interesting. Comparing NYC’s public transportation to Korea’s public transportation, Korea definitely has a better, more organized, and cleaner system. Korea’s culture and values really show through their public transportation and its efforts to show respect to the elders and pregnant women with the colored chairs. I hope that America can soon develop an efficient public transportation system because it would definitely make traveling more convenient and simple! 

[Seokjoon Han]

Hi Rachel Lim, I enjoyed your cultural artifact on Korea's public transportation system. I remember when I lived in Korea, our family used and relied on the public transportation system a lot because we did not have enough money for a car. Also for most people having a car is not very practical if you live in Seoul.

[Kianti Oengky]

I always love reading about public transportation in other countries, especially as someone who was born and raised in the US. I’ve traveled to Japan before and the transportation there seems very similar to Korean public transportation. I believe there are so many things you can learn about a society from looking at the type of transportation available and the various customs/etiquettes that surround them. For example, your description of the colored seats reflects the value of honoring elders, and simply the convenience and advanced nature of Korean transportation reflects their view on productivity.

[Emma Hoholik]

Hi Rachel! I really enjoyed your post on public transportation and technological innovation in South Korea. Honestly, the pictures and your descriptions of public transportation etiquette remind me a lot of the metro in Copenhagen. In Denmark, especially in Copenhagen, the buses, metro, and commuter trains are always spotless and relatively orderly. It’s definitely the nicest public transportation in my own traveling experience. Just like in South Korea, people living in Copenhagen also tend to avoid using their own cars (or even own a car) as jumping on the metro or biking is much more convenient.