A Post Selling Subway Seats Appears on Chinese SNS
"I'll Give Up My Seat for 5 Yuan (Approx. 1000 KRW)"
"Not Private Property, So Cannot Be Commercialized"
In China, a post claiming "selling subway seats during rush hour" has sparked controversy online.
An interior view of a Chinese subway, unrelated to the article content. A photo introducing VietJet Air's Chinese subway experience in Vietnam.
Recently, on Chinese social media (SNS), a post titled "Transferring subway seats during rush hour" was uploaded. The author, who introduced themselves as an IT industry worker living in the Lingang area of Pudong New District, Shanghai, opened by saying, "I take the subway to commute every day."
The author, Mr. A, wrote, "I take the train from Dishuihu Station to Longyang Road Station on Shanghai Metro Line 16," and added, "If you need a seat, please make a reservation." He also attached the times the train arrives at each station. It is reported that Mr. A succeeded in selling a seat for 5 yuan (approximately 1,000 KRW). He explained that he posted the listing because there was high demand for seats when using the crowded subway and received numerous inquiries. It is known that most inquiries were about the return commute rather than the morning commute.
Since subway seats are not private property that individuals can freely dispose of, commercializing seats and specifying prices is prohibited. A representative from Shanghai Metro Corporation, which operates Line 16, told 'Zimu News' on the 2nd, "Passengers do not have the right to sell subway seats," and added, "We do not support such transactions." Local netizens also criticized, saying, "Who do you think you are to sell subway seats?" "Soon all seats will be traded for money," "How can someone think of making money from subway seats?" "Ticket scalpers are worse than buyers. They should never be used," and "I'll just drive my car instead."
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