[Commuting Hell Liberation Diary] ① In Search of the Full Stop

Planning Series [Commuting Hell Liberation Diary] Begins
Life Spending 3-4 Hours Daily on Travel Time
Mid- to Long-Term Solutions Needed Through Urban Housing Supply and Transportation Network Expansion
Housing Supply All-Out Effort: Germany and GTX, UK as Role Models

Photo by Asia Economy

Being far from the workplace means being far from happiness.

According to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport's "Analysis of Public Transportation Usage in the Seoul Metropolitan Area," an average of 7.3 million people commute by public transportation daily in the metropolitan area alone. The average commuting time for public transit users is 1 hour and 27 minutes. Considering the time from opening the front door of one’s home to entering the office, as well as the return trip, it is estimated that more than three hours a day are wasted just on commuting.

Most commuters either sit or stand still during their commute, naturally leading to a lack of physical activity. This results in deteriorating health and strained family relationships. According to a 2016 study titled "The Impact of Commuting Time on Labor Activity and Health Status," longer commuting times significantly reduce leisure activities and the time spent on family activities. While happiness may not be determined by academic performance, it is certainly influenced by "commuting time."

The drama "My Liberation Notes," which aired from April to May, tells the story of three siblings who commute long distances to Seoul. Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Won Hee-ryong frequently referenced this drama, promising to "ease their hardships." The drama was also mentioned in the Ministry’s presidential briefing. President Yoon Suk-yeol said, "(Although I haven’t watched the drama myself) I am aware of the message it conveys."

However, unfortunately, nothing has changed yet. The hell of commuting and school runs continued yesterday evening and this morning as well. Even in moments when dry words are exchanged over desks, millions of people struggled to maintain their balance on rattling buses and subways while traveling tens of kilometers. Although the drama "My Liberation Notes" has ended, the hell of commuting is far from over.

To write a liberation diary from commuting hell, numerous experts were consulted. While their detailed proposals varied, the core solutions ultimately centered on "housing supply" and "transportation expansion."

First, supplying as many homes as possible in urban centers was presented as the most fundamental solution to liberate people from commuting hell. The shortage of supply leads to rising prices, which is the root cause pushing young people and low-income groups to the outskirts of the city.

Expanding transportation networks is the key to directly solving commuting hell. While major cities worldwide, including Seoul, continue to see population growth, it is practically difficult to supply unlimited housing in urban centers. Demand for housing in the outskirts inevitably arises. The challenge is to minimize this and improve convenience for those living on the outskirts.

The government announced a plan in August to supply 2.7 million housing units. Additionally, it is pushing for the early opening of the metropolitan express railway (GTX) in the Seoul metropolitan area. Many experts praise the direction of these plans. However, in terms of housing supply, only the quantity targets are clear, while the timing and methods of supply remain uncertain. Questions also remain about the feasibility and opening schedule of the GTX. Numerous obstacles are anticipated from planning to groundbreaking and completion.

Asia Economy, supported by the Korea Press Foundation, sought representative cases of "liberation from commuting hell" in Germany and the United Kingdom. We also met with senior local officials, parliamentary members, and experts to exchange opinions and seek advice on Korea’s situation.

Germany, long regarded as a model for housing policy, is currently struggling with rising housing prices. The central government has announced a large-scale supply policy. This situation is similar to Korea’s. London, the capital of the UK, has been expanding due to modernization over centuries and global population inflows. The decline of old urban areas occurred early on. This is why there is growing interest in London’s urban regeneration and Crossrail, which became a role model for GTX.

On the 7th, we will accompany citizens commuting and attending school from outside Seoul to Seoul to revisit the reality of commuting and school run hell. On the 8th and 9th, we will introduce Germany’s housing supply cases. On the 10th and 11th, we will examine urban regeneration and metropolitan transportation in the UK.

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