People Commuting by Swimming Along the River Instead of Taking the 'Jiokcheol' Subway "It Was Real"

Video of Commuting Home While Swimming Gains Attention

Videos of office workers changing into swimsuits and heading home have become a hot topic on social networking services (SNS).

The video shows office workers commuting home past the Aare River in Bern, Switzerland. On the 26th, the Switzerland Tourism Board posted on Instagram, "Is the recently trending unique commuting method of Swiss people true?" and answered, "It is true." The commuting method referred to here means swimming.

Swiss People Commuting Along the River
[Photo by Bern City Instagram]

Generally, commuting involves taking the subway, bus, car, motorcycle, bicycle, or walking. However, in Switzerland, a significant number of office workers choose swimming as their means of commuting. They carry special waterproof bags and repeatedly commute by swimming along the river. This method is a triple win as it helps avoid both the heat and traffic jams while promoting health, which is why many office workers enjoy swimming. The Aare River in Switzerland maintains a water temperature of 21 degrees Celsius even on hot summer days, making it an ideal way to escape the heat.

Swiss People Commuting Along the River
[Photo by Bern City Instagram]

Regarding this, the Switzerland Tourism Board stated, "When traveling around Bern, Basel, and other places, you can often see locals jumping into the water and floating downstream," adding, "As Switzerland has many lakes and rivers, many locals use the river's current to commute home."

In the video, men can be seen shirtless and women wearing bikinis as they jump into the water. When heading to the river, they pack their belongings in a waterproof bag shaped like a fish called a 'Wickelfisch,' which they carry even while swimming in the river.

Netizens who watched the video reacted with envy, saying things like, "I want to leave the hellish subway and commute like that," and "Is this what they call living near the river?"

However, since the current is quite strong, first-time visitors to the Aare River are advised to avoid using this method. Attention is also needed regarding the water flow, shipping routes, water quality, and temperature changes. In fact, in 2016, a Korean tourist who entered the Aare River was swept away by the rapid current and went missing.