I have deep appreciation towards the subway system in Seoul, because it is usually fast and dependable. However, due to my own scheduling problems I have to take the underground train during the most crowded time, which is around 6 – 7 PM.

There are a lot of seats available in the subway car. Two rows, facing each other, occupy the walls of the car, while the ample space in between allows a lot more standing passengers to fit in. There are a lot of handles to grab on, so it’s not too bad standing in the moving car.

But riding during Subway rush hour is a bit different, because it’s too crowded to the point that those handy handles are not reachable. Many standing people just trust their feet and hope that they won’t fall from the moving car. This is an acquired skill as I have recently developed, and some people with my amazement are able to watch TV on their cell phones while standing without a handle! But these kinds of rides really drain you, and it makes your day more tiring.