"Outside the Home Is Dangerous"... Subway and Bus Usage Plummets Amid Calls to Avoid Going Out

On the 24th, Seoul Subway Passenger Count 5.96 Million
Decrease of 1.2 Million Compared to the 17th

Subway Station Mask Supply Reduced from 2,000 to 100
10 Masks per Regular Bus, 8 per Village Bus

On the 26th, as the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) continued, a quarantine official was disinfecting city buses at the Eunpyeong Public Garage in Seoul. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunju Lee] As confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) surge, the use of public transportation in downtown Seoul has significantly decreased. It is interpreted that the atmosphere of refraining from going out as much as possible has continued since the weekend.

According to Seoul Metro on the 27th, the total number of passengers on subway lines 1 to 8 in Seoul on Monday the 24th was recorded at 5,963,678. Compared to Monday the 17th a week earlier (7,178,330), it decreased by 17% (1.2 million), and compared to the 10th two weeks ago (6,955,260), it also dropped by 14%. The average daily number of passengers on the Seoul subway last year was 7.32 million.

The downward trend continued from the weekend. Until the 15th and 16th of this month, the daily subway ridership was 8,586,742, but on the 22nd and 23rd, it dropped to 6,670,914, nearly 2 million fewer passengers. A Seoul Metro official said, "While other factors such as weather may have contributed to the significant decrease in ridership, the impact of COVID-19 appears to be the greatest."

In particular, it seems that the elderly are refraining from using public transportation. Compared to the subway, where those aged 65 and over can ride for free, the number of passengers on buses, which do not offer free rides, slightly decreased. The average daily number of free subway rides for those aged 65 and over is 620,000. A Seoul city official explained, "Between February 10 and 16, bus ridership decreased by 6% on weekdays and 8-9% on weekends compared to the average from January 1 to 19 before confirmed cases appeared," adding, "The decrease during commuting hours is smaller."

The number of masks supplied at subway stations and on buses for citizens has sharply declined. The supply of masks at subway stations was reduced from 2,000 per day to 100. For buses, where previously one box per vehicle was provided, general buses are now supplied with 10 masks per vehicle, and village buses with 8 masks per vehicle, on a limited basis. Passengers must ask the driver directly on buses or visit the station office at the subway to receive masks. A Seoul city official said, "The actual usage is understood to be less than the supply amount," and added, "We are making every effort to secure as many masks as possible."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.