How do people get around?
Living in a new place gives you the opportunity to see many new things! The tricky part is figuring out how to get to all of these new places. Let’s find out how people in Korea get around!
How did you get to school today? When I was growing up, I usually took the bus to school. I had to get up really early because I lived in the country and my house was one of the first stops on the bus route. I studied and practice driving a lot so that once I was old enough to drive, I got my license. I was so excited when I passed the driving exam and could drive myself to school! Having my own car gave me a lot of freedom, which I loved. Now that I live in Korea, I am back to taking buses, but that’s okay!
People who live in cities are able to take advantage of public transportation, but a majority of the United States relies on personal vehicles to get from place to place. In Korea, public transportation is the most popular way to get around. When my Korean friends found out that I have a license and drive myself around at home on a regular basis, they were very surprised. There are some Koreans who are licensed drivers, but they majority of people do not drive frequently.
To get around town, there are a few options. Of course, walking is often a good choice, but there are also several buses, taxis, and, in big cities, subways. If you would like to go to another town, the train is the most popular way to get there. The train goes all over the country, so it is likely to stop near any place someone would like to go. Once you arrive at the new town’s train station, buses are usually available to get you even closer to your destination.
South Korea is a part of the Korean Peninsula, so most of the borders are water! As a result, there are a few islands which are a part of Korea. To get to these islands, you can either take a ferry or an airplane. I haven’t been to any islands yet, but I hope to go when the weather gets a little bit warmer. I love islands!
I am very thankful for Korea’s public transportation system, since I will not able to drive during my time here. Not having a car is not a problem. If I want to travel on the weekends, I can just walk to the train station, where I can buy a train ticket to take me in any direction I want to go.
Korea has a lot of beautiful open land, but there are also many small cities. There are lots of people who live in this small country, so there seem to be people everywhere! The public transportation is great for helping people get around locally and from town to town.
How many people live in your hometown? I grew up in a town in Oregon of about 15,000 people. The largest city in South Korea is Seoul, with a population of over ten million people! All of these people need to get to school, work and many other places. Thankfully, there is a great subway system and other transportation options. Even though Seoul is a huge city, the traffic does not seem to be a problem. A majority of citizens do not drive their personal vehicles, which helps keep the roads clear and is also good for the environment.
From Seoul, it is possible to go places all over the country and all over the world! Seoul Station is located in the middle of the city and is the place to catch almost any subway, bus, taxi, or train. Incheon International Airport is located in the western part of the city. When I came to Korea, my plane landed at this airport. Airplanes coming from and going to places all over the world stop in Seoul every day. What an exciting and busy place!
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