Public transportation in Korea is probably some of the best in the world. Seoul’s subway is not only extensive, it is also cheap, clean and safe. Although I am still eagerly awaiting the opening of subway line #9 (it is about a month behind its original scheduled opening) I am convinced that the wait is well worth it, and I will soon be able to quickly travel throughout Seoul in comfort. If the subway system is not available one can always take the bus and fight for a seat with the masses. Despite the buses being crowded and their habit of all arriving at the same time instead of every five or ten minutes, when compared with other bus systems around the world, one has to be impressed. There is no doubt that Seoul’s public transportation is superior than most… But there are some cities in Asia that are going the extra mile in an effort to make theirs the best… Or at least the most memorable.
Many of you will undoubtedly remember Shanghai: City of Subway Lesbians. Of course, Seoul responded with its own gay subway. Two young Korean males made a video of themselves having sex on a subway near Kimpo airport. They were later tracked down by the Korean police and confessed that they had made the video as an advertising ploy for their own adult videos that they were producing or hoping to produce.
Now Hong Kong has introduced a double-deck bus in which the “peaceful surroundings” outside of the bus can be complemented by the very talented efforts of a Hong Kong teenage girl known as kikimushroom “for a price.” This young entrepreneur is/was providing lip-service in an effort to save up enough money to buy an expensive handbag. Surprisingly, two other passengers were unaware of the services kikimushroom was providing even though the whole business transaction was being taped. I guess Hong Kong’s scenery is pretty captivating. But to be fair, there were several passengers on the Korean subway while the two guys had sex and no one noticed them.
But where could this young student have learned this deviant behavior? “Police were investigating whether the video is linked to a trend called “compensated dating” – a euphemism for paid sex with young students – believed to have spread to Hongkong from Japan.” Apparently Japan does have some strange signs on their public transportation, and at least one game, RapeLay, that encourages strange sexual activities on Japanese subways (might not be work safe). Apparently this game has angered more than a few people and it has been pulled from shelves of Amazon.com.
But perhaps Japan is the wrong place to look for the source. In 2007 a British head teacher (not my pun) and his student performed a similar act. Instead of a bag, the girl received coke. The head teacher, Andrew Riley, was alleged to have said, “Sex and coke is mind-blowing.”
The next time you get ready to take a cab, stop and think, public transportation is apparently not that bad.
{ 30 comments… read them below or add one }
Amen. Seoul’s public transportation is one of the reasons I enjoy living here, for all of the reasons you mentioned. I’m excited about the new line, too.
The link about the gay couple filming live in the Seoul subway…. read the comments like “that’s so hot”, “where can I get this video?”… what is that? Is that a gay site?
That statement is not accurate.
First, many subway stations were built using asbestos insulation (a show on September 30th, MBC has found that 30 out of 33 stations on the Orange Line of the subway also have asbestos in them and more than a few people have been exposed to this serious health hazard. Also read the last link in the last link, regarding the reality of asbestos in the subway system here in Seoul.
The newer subway lines are supposedly free of asbestos since the use of such ended in 2001.
Clearly, the subway system is not “safe”.
Cm – no idea…. just something I found on the net.
Elgin – perhaps I should have said reasonably safe…..I actually meant in the form of crime
True enough Robert about the lack of violent crime.
I really, really wish the government would do the right thing and systematically clean out the asbestos, station-by-station, but to date, they have done nothing. Because of that, I will not use the old lines, ever again.
Meanwhile, the buses are noisy as hell because of their pre-recorded advertising. Naturally, I keep ear-plugs just because of that #$%@!! CRAP. Did I mention that I started using more taxis because of all this too?
Line 9 opens Friday – a little later than ‘late 2007′, which was the ETA several years ago. Better late than never, especially since there’s a station 5 minutes from my place… which I’m moving out of in three weeks.
“That statement is not accurate.”
Neither is your statement necessarily accurate.
There are different types of asbestos with differeing levels of risk.
The “safety” or otherwise will depend on the type of asbestos.
Also typically asbestos in building bear little threat to safety unless it is disturbed.
The risk from asbestos is dust particles in the air which are breathed into the lungs.
There are buildings, strucutres, pipework etc all over the world where asbestos has been used, very common for example were schools.
There is typically, very little risk from encapsulate asbestos used in buidlings, it is ironically when the asbestos is distrubed or removed that there is the greatest risk. Accordingly, many users will replace during a planned maintenance upgrade. Unless it is one of the more dangerous types there would be little benfeit in disturbing it, and possible harm and certainly a large amount of disruption. [Since removal requires extensive safety measures to contain the particles disturbed during removal. Pressure tents, air pumps, breathing apparatus etc...]
It was a great fire-resistant material and since fire is one of the greatest risks in a subway arguably it makes subways safer, although modern alternatives are clearly preferred.
Frankly, your reaction to never use a subway, is about the equivalent of the candlelight protests on american beef.
And I trust you will not be entering any building built before 2001 either, perhaps not even your own apartment?
China has also gifted us with a video of a high school guy fingering his gf on a fairly busy subway train. (Just want this post to be comprehensive, that’s all).
http://www.chinasmack.com/videos/hand-washing-gate-naughty-post-90s-students-shanghai-metro/
And, yes, as long as the asbestos isn’t disturbed, things should be fine. You could always take to the road instead of the subway; only about 10,000 people die per year in traffic fatalities in S. Korea–but you won’t die from cancer.
Ye familie El Gin summons by all presents, to shew to-wit, that it hath been most Grievoufly Injur’d by the Presence of the known Noxious and most Malevolent Behemoth, “Ass-bes-tos” lurking in the nether Regions of the Land, there to strike wantonly into the tender Bosoms of innocent Passer-by causing much confusion and Panick amongft Alle. El Gin claims further aginft the Hideouse Practise of spraying into the aether Gynormous clouds of noxious and odourous Fumes WORSE THAN THE BREATHE OF BEELZEBUB HIMESELF for the alleged Purpose of destroying the most tender of G-d’s creatures, the Mossquitto, benevolent friend of Man, unfairly reviled,
and prayeth to the Lord High Mayor of SEOUL that such nuifances be soforth banifhed from the Realm.
Read the links that I posted and follow the report. If you want to live in ignorance and trust station managers that order work in stations that disturb asbestos or try to tear it out while people are around, by all means, do so. If you had taken the trouble to follow the link provided, you would have read how there is currently no company that is certified to safely handle asbestos removal in Korea.
Comparing my desire to avoid this to the mad cow protests only reflects your lack of knowledge regarding the hazards of asbestos exposure and the lack of asbestos in my apartment.
P.S. “dogbertt” I would bet that if you had kids, you would not want them around pesticides or asbestos, in any quantities, but then posting elaborate ass-hatery is your hobby, isn’t it.
I spoke too soon. 2 days ahead of its (newly) scheduled opening, it’s been announced that Line 9′s opening will be pushed back to the end of July due to malfunctions in some of the automated systems during test runs.
@7
I learned something today
@10
I lol’d something today
@11
I shook my head today
It’s been a busy day.
I do wish there were more subways systems here, but sadly most of America is just too spread out for that to be cost effective.
I do, and because I care about their welfare I took them out of Korea to raise them.
What’s your excuse?
By the way, everything Arghaeri wrote is correct — speaking as someone who has spent part of his professional life working in asbestos, I recognize him as someone who knows what he’s talking about from experience, not just another wiki-crowned Interwebs know-it-all.
Right, “db”. Does “working in asbestos” mean as in litigation or from a health vocation then or do you belong to BANKO or some organization as such — if I may ask.
I originally tried to learn as much as I could about asbestos years ago after having been through an area that was contaminated with it.
dogbertt @10
That’s hilarious. Nice work.
I am curious, really, if “Arghaeri” does have the experience in this field that “dogbertt” claims, why does the information from the International Ban Asbestos Secretariat seem to contradict his reassurances of safety:
This would seem to contradict any claims of safety, especially if any construction is performed on these subway lines — which has indeed happened — because it would probably disturb whatever type of asbestos is there, thus putting fibers in the air. I have seen how construction subcontractors do work here and that does not reassure me whatsoever.
As it is, I’m stuck reading “dogbertt”‘s clever jackass comments instead of having an opportunity to hear from someone that might have better information on an important subject.
“Comparing my desire to avoid this to the mad cow protests only reflects your lack of knowledge regarding the hazards of asbestos exposure and the lack of asbestos in my apartment.”
No it doesn’t both asbestosis and mad cow disease can result in death, however the risk of that actually happening is minute in normal circumstances. Theoretically, there is a minimal risk, however the reaction of those in the mad cow protests and yourself are greatly disproportionate to the risk. Therefore the comparison is valid. You note that you are now going to use more taxis and buses which means that statistically you are placing yourself at greater risk of harm.
As to the level of asbestos in your apartment, since I expressed no knowledge of same, (note the use of “perhaps”), how does that in any way affect my assessment of your disproportionate and irrational fear of using the subway.
The point of my reference to older buildings was, and you never answered that point, are you now going to refuse to go into older buildings and “perhaps” even your own apartment, indeed your workplace and lecture rooms. After all asbestos is, at least in asia, still an extensively used material in construction. Why do you feel “unsafe” in the subway but not in you workplace. Has your workplace been surveyed and found clean of asbestos? Has your apartment? Have you check all the pipe lagging, the ceiling boards, the fire blanket in the kitchen, the fire measures between rooms/apartments, the sound deadening spray on the underside of the ceiling, the fire doors, the “artex” wall/ceiling finishes. You were also almost certainly “exposed” in earlier life in the US.
“why does the information from the International Ban Asbestos Secretariat seem to contradict his reassurances of safety:”
Nothing in the pasted info that followed this comment is contradictory to my comments. The pasted comments refer only to the current absence of certifed asbestos removal companies.
The people statistically at risk from asbestosis are those who were involved in its extraction/manufacture and/or those working in removal of asbestos. The statistical chances of asbestosis from an isolated or occasional exposure is hardly the same thing.
Perhaps, since you think differently you would like to provide the statistics for asbestosis illness/death in korea, not linked to manufacturing/mining or asbestos removal workers, and perhaps provide the comparative statistics on illness/death linked with riding taxis/buses?
You might also take into account the statistical timescales for developing asbestosis. I think you might find that if you add this to your current age, you will find there’s a strong statistical chance you will have died of old age, before your terrible subway experience takes hold.
“I have seen how construction subcontractors do work here and that does not reassure me whatsoever.”
I also hope they improve their regulation in relation to asbestos, as those workers are indeed at risk.
“Does “working in asbestos” mean…”
I like the fact that you can ask someone else to clarify their qualifications to talk about an issue without seemingly having any yourself.
LOL.
I can’t speak for Dogberrt, but working in asbestos means being involved in, arranging the specialist surveys of suspect areas, subsequently when specifying the standards, procedures, procurement of licensed specialists and implementing, for an of the safe removal of same from plant and buildings.
Because I know my workplace setup in detail and have talked to the fellow that did the insulation. It’s not an issue and the same goes for the apartment.
I am hoping so. I have been exposed to different forms of that stuff, in the U.S. and have probably walked into two places here in Seoul where it was clearly sprayed up on the ceiling. I actually called a company that does removal and testing for it in the states and they were good enough to explain just what is involved in exposure and testing. I originally was concerned because of working in a building where workers tore out chrysotile tiles without realizing what they were doing. Only later did we find out there was a problem.
Yes, I agree. As you know, at least one subway construction worker has already died from such and I have seen enough work habits here and the sneaky way too many people have with safety issues to be willing to ride a bus or trust a cab driver more since I would rather take such a risk up front than unknowingly have risk thrust upon me.
I do appreciate your taking the time to write more about this issue too. Do you happen to get any technical information about the status of asbestos removal in the subway here?
No sorry, ancient past for me now.
Must admit I’m surprised there are no licensed removal specialists here.
Big business in the UK where its been regulated for 20 years or more.
Like I said, I don’t trust these people here with public health and safety issues unless I personally talk to a specialist that can satisfy my concerns.
Trusting that a cab driver I hire won’t wreck is different from trusting some unknown subway official or station manager won’t do something bad out of ignorance or greed.
@weikuboy: Thanks!
Elgin, think of my “jackass” comments as a humorous complement to arghaeri’s truths. One, you were as exposed to asbestos “contamination” equally, if not more so, in the U.S. as in Korea. Two, those statistically at risk are those who applied asbestos-containing materials or mined it — not those of us riding subways, working in office buildings, etc.. Three, encapsulated asbestos is almost always best left where it is. Four, if you are talking chrysotile-containing materials, you are talking about having to endure years of cumulative, constant exposure — and it helps to be a smoker, as the synergy of tobacco use and asbestos exposure is proven. Five, if YOU really care about the health, safety, and well-being of YOUR children, you would not be raising them in Korea. And you call ME a jackass ….
As far as my qualifications, yes, I worked in asbestos litigation, tried many many cases, deposed medical experts on both sides, did the research, etc. Not once in hundreds of cases did I ever come across a plaintiff like you, who had gotten asbestosis or lung cancer or mesothelioma simply from living his day-to-day life, never having mined or worked with asbestos-containing materials.
Lastly, I’m curious to know how you think you can tell whether a popcorn ceiling was sprayed with “asbestos” or another material just by looking at it. What are your bona fides, besides paranoia and an utter and complete lack of humor?
P.S.
This is absolutely right and the reason you are well compared to the U.S.-beef panicked contingent.
YES! El Gin, you are a complete and utter FOOL if you do not realize this.
You have zero credibility.
. . . and you are still a jackass, “dogbutt”, but you then you must cultivate that as a virtue.
Elgin lives in such a thick blanket of irrational fear and paranoia that it’s almost impossible to reach him through it.
“Because I know my workplace setup in detail and have talked to the fellow that did the insulation.”
Not sure I’d be reassured by that, given that the standard response to queries in korea is to give the simplest answer, not necessarily the correct one, and that only covers the insulation. Nor does it answer whether you’ve ceased going in all other buildings until you’ve checked out their construction materials.
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