[Commuting Hell Liberation Diary]② Incheon-Seoul Commute 2 Hours... "Need to Reduce Housing Costs and Prepare for Employment"

Accompanying the Commute from Dongincheon to Seoul Dongdaemun-gu
Takes 2 Hours 10 Minutes... "Exhausted When I First Commuted"
Bus-Subway-Subway-Bus... At Least 3 Transfers
During Internship, Tried Finding Share House
But High Housing Costs and Poor Facilities Led to Commuting Decision
"Tired Just Sitting, Want to Go Home Upon Arrival"

Editor's NoteThe first article of the 'Commuting Hell Liberation Diary' focused on accompanying sources who spend long hours commuting or traveling to school from the metropolitan area to Seoul, highlighting the reality of 'commuting hell.' However, considering that the sources' homes, workplaces, schools, and even personal lives are disclosed in the article, we have respected the sources' wishes to avoid privacy exposure and have reported the article anonymously instead of using real names.

On September 20th, I accompanied Haerin Song (pseudonym, 23), who commutes from Dongincheon to a university located in Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul. Song left at 10 a.m. and only arrived at the school at 12:10 p.m. The photo shows Song looking at her phone around 12 p.m. on Seoul Subway Line 1. Photo by Seoyul Hwang chestnut@

[Asia Economy Reporter Hwang Seoyul] Around 10 a.m. on September 20th, I met Song Haerin (pseudonym, 23), who commutes to a university located in Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul, at a bus stop in Yeonsu-gu, Incheon. Song’s expression already showed signs of fatigue. Despite the somewhat late morning, she still had to travel to Seoul for about two more hours, transferring at least three times. Additional fares apply for the long distance. The round-trip public transportation cost is about 4,000 won.

Song is a senior in her final semester at university and was heading to school for in-person classes after a long time. Since she had only a few credits left and needed to start preparing for employment, she decided to commute this semester to reduce housing costs. Song said, "When I first started commuting, I was so exhausted that I was completely drained by the time I arrived at school. Now that I’m a senior, I’m used to it, so it’s okay."

Song, who arrived at Dongmak Station on Incheon Subway Line 1, walked to the platform where quick transfers are possible. It is his own effort to save even a little commuting time. Photo by Hwang Seoyul chestnut@

After taking a city bus and arriving at Dongmak Station on Incheon Subway Line 1, Song immediately walked to the platform for a quick transfer. She had developed a habit of trying to reduce her approximately two-hour commute time as much as possible. Song explained, "Sometimes the times shown on the subway app don’t match the actual arrival times. When there’s a real-time update, I do this because if I miss the transfer to Seoul Line 1, I could miss the train." If she misses a subway, she has to wait 7 to 8 minutes.

At 10:25 a.m., the subway arrived at Dongmak Station. It was a relatively quiet time, so she didn’t have to frown while bumping into people on her commute. Song considers such days fortunate. She said, "Most of the time on Incheon Line 1, I can sit, but if I can’t find a seat at Bupyeong Station, the transfer station for Line 1, it gets tough from then on. One reason I board at Dongmak Station is that it’s close to home, but if I board at Dongchun Station, one stop later, I might not get a seat." In August, she actually had to stand on Incheon Line 1 as well. From March to August, while doing an internship before graduation, she commuted from her family home to the company during the last month.

Around 10:49 AM, Mr. Song, who arrived at Bupyeong Station on Incheon Line 1, is heading toward the Seoul Subway Line 1 platform.
Photo by Hwang Seoyul chestnut@

At first, she rented a share house near the company because she had to arrive at the company in Jung-gu, Seoul, by 9 a.m. The deposit was 1 million won, with a monthly rent of 450,000 won and a management fee of 70,000 won, totaling 520,000 won monthly. She chose the share house hoping for many options since she wanted short-term residence, but it was different from what she imagined. The water purifier in the common area was poorly maintained, so she had to buy bottled water every time, and the microwave didn’t work. She considered renting a studio apartment but gave up after hearing that a cramped space barely enough to lie down alone would cost 450,000 won monthly. Moreover, it lacked an induction stove and sink, making it no different from a goshiwon disguised as a studio. She said, "I thought it was better to endure some hardship than to live like this paying that much."

At 10:49 a.m., upon arriving at Bupyeong Station, Song glanced at how many people were walking on the platform and muttered to herself, "I might not get a seat." Then, as soon as she arrived at the station, she said, "I have to go to platform 4-3," and moved without hesitation toward the platform for a quick exit. The Line 1 subway bound for Uijeongbu that arrived six minutes later was fortunately quite spacious despite her concerns. She said calmly, "This is a decent day." After transferring to Line 1, she had to spend 1 hour and 8 minutes on the subway. Song used to carry thin, light books to pass the long time but recently often looks at her phone.

At around 11:36 a.m., the Seoul Subway Line 1 was already heading toward Yongsan Station. Outside the subway window, the Han River, a symbol of Seoul, could be seen. Mr. Song said at this point, "I really feel that I have arrived in Seoul." Photo by Hwang Seoyul chestnut@

Enduring the boring time, the subway was crossing the Han River Bridge and heading toward Yongsan Station. Song said she only then felt, "I realize I’ve arrived in Seoul." Looking at the Han River through the opposite window, the express train bound for Yongsan running ahead was falling behind. She said, "If I had taken the Yongsan-bound express train, I would have had to transfer to the Uijeongbu-bound train I’m on now, but if I had taken that train, I would have already missed this one." She was now about halfway there.

Song said she had appointments all day today. With more online classes and fewer commutes in her final semester, she was taking the opportunity to meet many faces she hadn’t seen often. Still, it was much more relaxed than when she commuted almost every day as a freshman. Back then, spending four hours a day commuting made her feel like her day started early but ended quickly. Song said, "I was in a club in my freshman year, but because I had to get home early, I couldn’t get close to other friends quickly."

As her role in the club grew and her school attendance increased, she lived in an officetel near the school for a year and a half during her sophomore and junior years. To ease her parents’ worries and reduce housing costs, she shared a one-room apartment with a friend, placing a bunk bed inside. The monthly rent was 500,000 won, and the management fee was in the mid-100,000 won range, so each paid about 330,000 to 350,000 won. Comparing the quality of life between living alone and commuting, Song described it as "having evenings." She said, "When I lived alone, after school, there were more things to do around campus, and in the evenings, I watched movies and met friends." What might seem like a small daily routine to some was a big change for Song.

12:04 PM. Just over two hours later, Mr. Song arrived at Hoegi Station near the school. To reach the school, he had to transfer once more to a village bus in front of the station.
Photo by Hwang Seoyul chestnut@

At 12:04 p.m., just over two hours after boarding the bus and subway, she arrived at Hoegi Station, the closest subway station to the university. Since the distance from the station to the school is far, she had to take a village bus from here to the school gate. After boarding all the students who took the same subway, the bus departed. She arrived at school at 12:10 p.m. Song said, "Just sitting is tiring," and added, "I already want to go home."

※This project was supported by the Press Promotion Fund, funded by government advertising fees.