Why a Unemployed Person Was Surprised Taking the Subway at 7 AM [Curiosity Lab]

On the 20th, when the Seoul Metro Workers' Union operating lines 1 to 8 of the Seoul subway began a legal struggle, Gwanghwamun Station on Line 5 was crowded with commuters. The Seoul Metro Workers' Union will go on strike starting from the 6th of next month if dialogue is refused. Photo by Jo Yong-jun

"I'm unemployed, but I was surprised taking the 7 a.m. subway."

Recently, a post by a netizen who introduced themselves as unemployed was uploaded on an online community. They said that since they were unemployed, they usually slept at 7 a.m. every day, but they had to get up early to travel from Ilsan to Cheonan. They planned to sit and sleep soundly for two hours on the subway but realized it was a mistake. Not only was it hard to sleep sitting down, but even standing was difficult. Despite the subway being full, more people got on at the next station, making it even harder.

An average of 160,000 passengers per day are exiting the platform at Jamsil Station on Line 2. Photo by Heo Young-han

◆ Guro has the highest number of first train passengers (15,000), narrowly surpassing Bupyeong

Netizens who read the story say it’s natural for people taking the first subway or bus for the first time to be surprised by the crowd. The reason for the large number of passengers is sometimes because people wake up early due to lack of sleep, but often it’s because the distance between home and work is far, so they have to leave early to arrive on time. There are also cases where workers like cleaners or security staff start work early before regular office hours, or people go to early morning labor markets. Which stations are crowded during the first and last trains?

15,000 Passengers Board at Guro Station During the First Train Time Slot

Looking at the October statistics from Seoul’s public data, the station with the highest number of passengers boarding the first train (between 4 a.m. and 5 a.m.) is Guro Station (Gyeongbu Line) with 14,749 passengers. It narrowly surpassed Bupyeong Station (Gyeongbu Line, 11,188 passengers). Following are Seoul National University Station (Line 2, 5,096 passengers), Sindorim Station (Line 2, 5,031 passengers), Yeongdeungpo Station (Gyeongbu Line, 4,417 passengers), Bucheon Station (Gyeongin Line, 4,141 passengers), Byeongjeom Station (Gyeongbu Line, 3,592 passengers), Uijeongbu Station (Gyeongwon Line, 3,186 passengers), Suwon Station (Gyeongbu Line, 2,807 passengers), and Bugae Station (Gyeongin Line, 2,652 passengers), all ranking in the top 10.

◆ 44 stations with over 1,000 passengers mostly located on Gyeongbu Line, Gyeongin Line, and other metropolitan lines

Changdong, Kwangwoon University, Yangju, Hoeryong, and Ansan followed with passenger numbers in the 2,000s, and Hoeryong, Ansan, Songnae, Sinimun, Cheonan, Dongincheon, Jukjeon, Gaebong, Cheongnyangni, Deokso, and Gasan Digital Complex also ranked high.

Among the top 44 subway stations with over 1,000 passengers, most are located on metropolitan lines far from the city center such as the Gyeongbu Line, Gyeongin Line, Gyeongwon Line, and Bundang Line. Among these, Seoul Metro stations include Seoul National University and Sindorim on Line 2, Changdong on Line 4, Seokgye on Line 6, Cheongnyangni on Line 1, and Hongdaeipgu on Line 2.

Morning scene at Byeollae Station on Subway Line 8 in Namyangju-si, Gyeonggi Province. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung

◆ 36 stations including Chungmuro and Ujangsan had zero passengers boarding the first train

Among 621 stations, 36 stations had no passengers boarding during the first train time, including Chungmuro (Line 3), Ujangsan (Line 5), Sinnnae (Line 6), Sinchon (Gyeongui Line), and Seonyudo (Line 9). Among major stations, Gangnam (Line 2, 148 passengers), Jamsil (Line 2, 116 passengers), Sinsa (Line 3, 65 passengers), Apgujeong (Line 3, 42 passengers), Nonhyeon (Line 7, 37 passengers), Ahyeon (Line 2, 31 passengers), Yeoksam (Line 2, 30 passengers), and Express Bus Terminal (Line 3, 195 passengers; Line 7, 20 passengers; Line 9, 31 passengers) were noted.

The Sillim Line connects 11 stations from Yeouido Saetgang Station to Gwanaksan (Seoul National University) Station. It offers transfers to Subway Line 9 (Saetgang Station), Line 1 (Daebang Station), Line 7 (Boramae Station), and Line 2 (Sillim Station).

◆ Stations with the highest number of last train alightings are Sillim, Sindorim, Hongdaeipgu, Seoul National University, and Guro Digital Complex

So, which stations have the most people getting off during the last train time (between midnight and 1 a.m.)? The top five were Sillim (Line 2, 22,615 passengers), Sindorim (Line 2, 21,098 passengers), Hongdaeipgu (Line 2, 20,028 passengers), Seoul National University (Line 2, 18,120 passengers), and Guro Digital Complex (Line 2, 13,945 passengers). Following were Guro (Gyeongbu Line, 11,228 passengers), Konkuk University (Line 2, 10,871 passengers), Sadang (Line 2, 10,848 passengers), Yeonsinnae (Line 3, 10,828 passengers), and Geumjeong (Gyeongbu Line, 9,647 passengers). Jamsil (Line 2), Uijeongbu (Gyeongwon Line), Suyu (Line 4), Kkachisan (Line 5), Sindaebang (Line 2), Nakseongdae (Line 2), Hwagok (Line 5), and Hapjeong (Line 2) also had between 8,000 and 9,000 passengers.

Commuters on the Seoul subway are sitting while looking at their cell phones on their way home from work. Photo by Heo Young-han

While the first train boarding numbers were high on the Gyeongbu and Gyeongwon Lines, last train alightings were overwhelmingly high on Line 2. Among 55 stations with over 5,000 passengers, including Dangsan (Line 9, 5,030 passengers), Line 2 stations (Sillim, Sindorim, Hongdaeipgu, Seoul National University, Guro Digital Complex, Konkuk University, Sadang, Jamsil, Sindaebang, Nakseongdae, Hapjeong, Bongcheon, Guui, Sinchon, Seongsu, Gangnam, Daerim, etc.) accounted for 17 stations, or 30%. Lines 4 (Ssangmun, Suyu, Changdong, Nowon, Sadang, Sungshin Women's University, Hansung University, Gireum), 5 (Kkachisan, Hwagok, Gangdong, Gunja, Misa), and 9 (Yeomchang, Noryangjin, Gayang, Dangsan) also had many stations with high numbers.

While 36 stations had zero passengers boarding during the first train time, 15 stations including Chungmuro, Sinnnae, Yeonsinnae, and stations on the Gyeongwon Line, Gyeongui Line, and Bundang Line had no passengers alighting during the last train time.