Young People in 'Ha-ui Siljong' Fashion Appear on London Subway... What's Happening?

A Unique Event Continuing Since 2002
"For Fun... Hoping the Spirit Lives On"

An unusual event where people ride the subway without wearing pants took place in London, England, drawing attention. The event, known to have been started by an American comedian, has been ongoing for over 20 years.

On the 12th (local time), British broadcaster BBC and others reported that the 'No Trousers Tube Ride' event was held in London, with dozens of citizens participating.

A unique event where participants ride the subway without wearing any lower garments once a year took place in London, England. Photo by Daily Mail

The event is known to have first started in 2002 by Charlie Todd, a comedian from New York, USA, along with seven participants, and has since spread to major cities worldwide. In London, it has been held regularly since 2009.

Participants gathered around 2:45 PM in Soho Chinatown, London. All were properly dressed on their upper bodies, but wore no pants except for their underwear. The event began at 3:00 PM, 15 minutes later, and participants visited several stations including Westminster, South Kensington, and Waterloo, which are busy areas in London.

The participants behaved just like regular subway riders, reading books or listening to music. The organizers emphasized, "The sole purpose of this event is simply to enjoy the day." Charlie Todd, the event’s founder, also said on the day, "It is a harmless and fun event," adding, "The goal is to bring laughter to others. I hope this spirit continues."

This year’s event organizer, Dave Selkirk (40), explained to the BBC, "There are too many bad and boring things in the world. Just doing something for its own sake is a good thing," highlighting the significance of the event. One participant said in a broadcast interview, "After seeing it online, I thought, 'What’s the harm?'" and added, "If someone asks why people climb Mount Everest, wouldn’t you answer the same way?"

However, the no-pants event is not welcomed by everyone. Online netizens criticized it with comments such as "It causes discomfort in public places" and "It’s terrible." On the other hand, some voices defended it, saying, "It’s no different from beach attire."