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Seoul to offer priority seats for pregnant women on all subway lines

January 15, 2016
(Courtesy of Seoul Metro government)

(Courtesy of the Seoul metropolitan government)

SEOUL (Yonhap) — The Seoul metropolitan government said Friday that it will expand the priority seating service for pregnant women to all lines of the capital’s subway network.

The capital city has offered the exclusive seats on several of the capital’s eight lines since 2013, with two pink-colored seats available in each compartment.

Starting last year, the seats for pregnant woman were available on subway lines No. 2 and No. 5 but only partially on the No. 3 and No. 8 lines. But the special seats will be available on every line in the near future, a Seoul city official said.

Currently, Seoul Metro, established in 1974, runs the capital’s subway lines No. 1-4, while the Seoul Metropolitan Rapid Transit Corp. operates lines No. 5-8.

The latter was set up in 1994 so that competition between the two companies would lead to better service.

The Seoul city government said the two subway operators will be merged into a single entity by 2016 in an effort to enhance management efficiency.

The special seat system for pregnant women has a 73 percent approval rating, according to a recent poll by the city government on 523 people.

The official said the city government will promote the service on all subway trains so that pregnant women are well treated.

One Comment

  1. Mohan

    January 15, 2016 at 8:07 PM

    Even yesterday I saw one event. One pregnant woman stepped into the subway and she couldn’t find a seat for her and finally, she gone out of the train to find another one. I hope at least any of these activities helps pregnant women in future.

    Reply