Transportation in Korea (Subway, Bus, Ktx, Taxi, Intercity Bus)

To be honest, Korea is not the most pedestrian-friendly place I know. Cars come first and pedestrians come second. Unfortunately, I don't drive here. I probably will some day, when I have understood a few rules that so far are still quite obscure to me (needless to say that being able to read the signs would also help). I did drive when we visited Jeju island for a few days, but it was much easier than in congested cities like Seoul or Busan (where drivers are apparently considered to be the worst in the country). Long story short, I have to walk and use public transportation, which is not extremely complicated. True, subway maps may seem a little confusing at first, especially in Seoul, but it's pretty easy to find one's way around, and signs and announcements are usually in Korean and in English (sometimes in Chinese and Japanese too). Plus you get to enjoy the jingles that announce the arrival of a train, with different jingles at transfer stations or (in Busan) when there's a beach near the station. 

😰

Subways can be pretty crowded at rush hour, like many subways around the world. But I like it that people wait in line to get on the train, instead of rushing and fighting, as we do back home. It's also very pleasant that trains and platforms are extremely safe and clean (here again, Paris can't compare). Every time a train reaches its final stop, a crew of cleaning ladies get on to clean it before it departs again. 

Paris Metro : much older and far less clean.

Also, there are restrooms at every station, usually located before you go through the turnstile, which means that not only subway travelers can use them. If you've ever tried to find public toilets in Paris (in the metro or elsewhere) you'll understand why this is so amazing to me. On the trains, most passengers are glued to their smartphone, not least because of free wifi, which is another big difference with my home country. And it goes without saying that the cars are air-conditioned, which you shouldn't take for granted if you visit France. 

Taking the bus, on the other hand, can be a little less pleasant. There are a lot of buses, and they're pretty fast and cheap too. But I'm still not used to the way most drivers speed and then hit the brakes pretty hard. It makes the rides pretty shaky and bumpy. I don't dislike a bus ride if the bus isn't crowded and I can sit...but that's a big if... 

The third option to move around town is to take a cab. And this is very common here, since taxis are everywhere. And if you do have to call one, the chances are that it will show up within less than three minutes. And it's pretty cheap too (although the base fare has recently increased). Of course, you can't be sure the driver speaks English, but I have already taken a taxi by myself, and I made it to my destination, so there's nothing to worry about. Still, some taxi drivers tend to think they are race car drivers, so remember to always buckle up (it's the law now, but drivers usually don't care if you don't).

For longer trips, bullet-trains and intercity buses are the main means of transportation that I have tried so far. The Korean "KTX" (high speed train) is extremely convenient. For a Frenchman, it's also very familiar, since it's based on the same technology as the french TGV, so the trains almost look alike. 

French TGV

Korean KTX

Starting point of Korea railroad at Seoul Station

There are a few differences though. One is punctuality (I don't think I've ever seen a late KTX, when I can barely remember the last time my TGV was on time). And if you go from Seoul to Busan, there's a train every fifteen to thirty minutes. Also, I've never found anyone sitting on my seat, which is not uncommon in France, for some reason. Ticket inspectors don't check your ticket, according to what I've been told they only check empty seats. And they bow to passengers every single time they enter or exit the car. In short, I've never been a train enthusiast, but Korea could make me become one. However, I take the train less often now since the high-speed connexion between  Incheon International Airport and Busan (as well as other major cities) has unfortunately been discontinued for lack of profitability it seems. To reach the airport from another city than Seoul, you can either take a KTX to Seoul Station, then take the Incheon express train to ICN, or you can use intercity express buses, which are a common means of transportation in Korea. They're quite comfortable, safe, and cheaper than the train, but of course they're much slower (about five hours from Busan to ICN). It's also a good way to discover rest areas on Korean freeways, where you can discover all different kinds of Korean food.

All in all, there are a lot of alternatives to driving, but something tells me I'll soon be posting about my driving experience in Korea. Looks like fun!