Pregnant Woman Onboard, But Everyone Only Looks at Their Phones... Bus Driver Says, "Please Give Up Your Seats"

Seoul Arterial Bus No. 270 Driver Jeon Jin-ok
Shows Consideration When Pregnant Woman Boards Crowded Morning Bus
"Many Elderly Passengers... It's Naturally What Should Be Done"

The warm-hearted action of a bus driver who stopped driving to accommodate a pregnant woman on a crowded bus during the morning commute is drawing attention. According to a recent JTBC report, Jeon Jin-ok, a driver of bus number 270 that runs between Mangwoo-dong and Sangam-dong in Seoul, realized that a pregnant passenger, Ms. A, had boarded the bus after it departed from Cheongnyangni Station Transfer Center on the morning of the 27th of last month. Jeon said, "There are many elderly and vulnerable passengers on route 270, so I always pay close attention to the passengers," adding, "That day, a pregnant woman struggled to get on the bus, which was so packed that it was almost impossible to move."

[Image source=JTBC news screen capture]

Jeon said, "During the rush hour, everyone is usually occupied with their seats and looking at their phones. When Ms. A looked toward the back of the bus, I thought, 'This isn't right,' so I engaged the side brake and stood up." When the bus stopped at a red light, he quickly applied the side brake, stood up, turned his body backward, and asked the passengers, "A pregnant woman has boarded; could you please give up your seats?" Upon hearing this, a female passenger offered her seat to Ms. A, allowing her to sit comfortably for the 20 minutes it took to pass through nine stops.

Moved by Jeon's thoughtful consideration, Ms. A approached him before getting off, bowed her head, and expressed her gratitude. She later posted a message praising Jeon on the bus company's website, saying, "I was truly touched and thankful." In response to Ms. A's gratitude, Jeon reportedly said, "I'm sorry I couldn't take better care of you." Jeon told JTBC, "The pregnant woman came forward and thanked me sincerely, and I apologized. I said I should have prepared a seat earlier but was too late. I told her it was something the driver should naturally do, and I was the one who should be thankful."

He added, "It's something I've always done, but this experience makes me want to work even harder going forward." Netizens who read the story left comments such as, "When the bus is packed and everyone is looking at their phones, it's hard to notice. The driver acted wisely," "He is a respectable person," and "It's reassuring to have a driver who cares about citizens' safety. I hope the woman who gave up her seat is blessed as well."

Earlier in July, a mother of twins, Ms. B, who commuted by bus from Gyeonggi Province to Seoul, shared the kind actions of a bus driver she encountered every morning during her pregnancy, touching many hearts. Ms. B commuted for an hour and a half on an intercity bus from Gyeonggi Province to Seoul while pregnant with twins last July. At some point, she noticed that the front seat of the bus was always empty.

It turned out that just before Ms. B boarded, the bus driver had asked the passengers, "Those sitting in the front, I'm sorry, but a pregnant woman will be boarding here, so please move to another seat," requesting their understanding. Ms. B expressed her gratitude to the bus driver for his kindness.

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