Seoul Workers Unfazed by 'National Evacuation' Texts
No Rush to Leave, Continue Commuting as Usual
Some Catch Up on Sleep After Ministry of Interior's False Alarm Texts
"Even if war breaks out, we still have to go to work. No being late."
On the morning of the 31st, office workers on the Korean Peninsula, where division persists, experienced a unique commute. They live in a space centered around the Military Demarcation Line, where armed conflict could break out at any time, but their busy daily lives leave no room to feel such fears. This is also why it is difficult for foreigners to easily understand Korea's situation.
When North Korea launches a missile, people worry that something might happen on the peninsula and send check-in messages via social networking services (SNS) to acquaintances in Korea. However, locals respond as if it is no big deal. This could be due to becoming numb to security threats or because they have been hardened by experience.
At around 6:41 a.m. on the 31st, a 'evacuation text' from Seoul City was sent to citizens. The message read, "At 6:32 a.m. today, a warning alert was issued for the Seoul area. Citizens are requested to prepare for evacuation, and please prioritize evacuation for children and the elderly."
This was not a prank text from an individual but a warning message sent by a local government. At the time the message was received, inside Seoul Subway Line 3 heading toward Ogeum. Citizens inside the subway traveling from Hongje Station toward Muakjae Station also received the Seoul City message. Notification sounds rang out everywhere. Citizens who were standing or sitting almost simultaneously focused on their phones.
The message was about the issuance of a warning alert in the Seoul area and a recommendation for citizens to evacuate. Some muttered, "What is this?" but no one moved seats or hurriedly got off at the next station. On the contrary, at Muakjae Station, commuters boarded the subway as usual. It was a scene no different from any other day.
Some citizens who received the message checked news on portal sites and then went back to sleep. Although Seoul City's emergency disaster message contained alarming content, they confirmed it was related to a space launch vehicle that North Korea was said to have launched. Those aware of the space launch vehicle news knew approximately when North Korea planned to launch it and understood that the emergency disaster message was related to this.
Even at the time Seoul City's emergency disaster message was sent, some citizens were catching up on their insufficient sleep. Is the fatigue of daily life weighing more heavily on them than the fear of a possible war?
At around 7:03 a.m., citizens confirmed a message from the Ministry of the Interior and Safety stating, "The warning alert issued by Seoul Special City is a false alarm." They then returned to the usual scene inside the subway on their commute.
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