Traffic Jams, Pollution Symbolize Seoul City
By Bae Ji-sook
Staff Reporter
Many people out of patriotism might want to talk about Seoul's cultural heritage, ``miracle on the Han River,'' and delicious cuisine as the city's symbols. To foreigners, Seoul is promoted as city of dynamism and versatility.
However, when Korean's really think about Seoul as a living city, the first thing that comes to mind is traffic jams, a survey showed.
When the Korea Federation of Design Associations asked 500 adult Seoulites about the city's symbols in April, 80 percent answered "traffic hell."
About half of 200 foreign adults who visited the country also said traffic congestion is the first image popping up in their mind about Seoul.
Seoul residents had even more negative images about their city. Sixty-seven percent cited ``severe air pollution'' and 63 percent ``expensive.''
Among positive comments, 49 percent said "lively" and 48 percent "ever developing."
In plural answers, 43 percent of foreigners cited safety as Seoul's representative image, 44 percent tradition, and 40 percent shopping convenience.
Among Seoul residents, 54 percent picked Gyeongbok Palace as the city's leading symbol.