Korea's Cultural Acceptances: Exploring Unique Norms and Practices
Travelling to different countries or immersing oneself in a foreign culture is often emphasized as a valuable way to broaden our understanding of the world. It involves being in a place where your native language is not understood and where customs and practices may differ greatly from what you're used to in your country.
In today's interconnected world, the globe is more closely linked than ever before in various ways.
Learning and exploring through new experiences is a highly regarded ongoing journey. When living in Korea, you may come across things entirely new to you but considered ordinary by Koreans due to their familiarity with them.
I would like to share some anecdotes from when my friend from Germany visited me in Seoul. As we walked around the city, she was often amazed by things I had never considered remarkable.
Right from the moment she arrived at Seoul Station, she was speechless. As we ascended from the underground train station using the long automatic escalator, it seemed to disappear into the distance without a visible end.
Along the way, the ground was marked with raised patterns to guide visually impaired individuals to the main train station, cross, stairs, or toilets.
Large parasols were installed at intersections to provide shelter from the snow, rain, or strong sunlight while waiting.
A recent addition in most major bus stations is heated seating, allowing people to keep their bottoms warm while waiting for their bus.
In subway stations, clear signage at every corner makes it difficult for subway users to lose their way.
Each subway car has designated pink-carpeted seats for pregnant women, ensuring they can secure seats during busy mornings. These improvements were implemented not long ago to encourage childbirth rates.
Additionally, Seoul subways offer easy access to remote areas like the Gyeonggi province, a suburb of Seoul, so when you wish to expose to the surrounding green areas, you can easily hub on the subway to reach there.
With the availability of free Wi-Fi, people can conveniently check subway and bus schedules using a public transport application on their smartphones. This application provides useful information, such as the number of remaining bus stops before your pick-up and the occupancy level of the bus, allowing you to consider alternative transportation options if necessary. This level of convenience in daily life is a great advantage.
Individuals have become accustomed to and reliant on these conveniences, possibly to the extent that they may take them for granted or feel entitled to them.
Public transportation fares are quite reasonable.
On a personal note, the democratic nature of the traffic system can sometimes be overwhelming. Frequent AI announcements repetitively advise against running on escalators, urging passengers to hold onto the handrails and walk slowly to avoid accidents etc.
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