'Women-only' subway cars get test run in Busan

The Korea Times

The Korea Times

National

Tue, October 3, 2023 | 06:19

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'Women-only' subway cars get test run in Busan

Posted : 2016-06-16 17:17

Updated : 2016-06-16 17:17

Busan will start trialing a "women-only" subway car during rush hour from June 22. /Yonhap

By Lee Jin-a

Busan subway will trial women-only cars on its Metro Line 1 during rush hour from June 22.

Busan Transportation Corporation (BTC) said it will designate the fifth car of each train as women-only to prevent crimes against women, particularly pregnant women and those with infants.

"We decided to test-operate the women-only car in order to solve the problems that women often face amid the increasing rate of subway passengers during rush hour," BTC chief executive Park Jong-hum said.

Workers will be at each station daily from 7 to 9 a.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. to guide passengers. After three months, BTC will decide whether to continue with the cars, depending on passenger opinions.

Busan citizens reacted differently to the announcement.

"I think it's a good idea to create a women-only car in a subway," said Cheon Eun-hye, a college student, 25. "I often felt insecure when I rode on a subway train wearing short skirts because of the recent crimes against women."

Kim Dong-chun, 23, a soldier, opposed the policy, saying: "It is not fair for men to be treated differently because of their gender."

Seoul and Daegu Metropolitan City proposed the same plan in 2007 and 2011, respectively, but faced strong opposition amid claims the system was discrimination against men.