Koreans endure world’s longest commute at 108 minutes, causing serious health risks
Korea records the longest commute time among 43 countries worldwide. Yonhap
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Korean workers now face the longest commute time in the world, averaging 108 minutes a day — a burden that experts warn has become a serious threat to public health, far beyond mere inconvenience.
A recent study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences by researchers at the Autonomous University of Barcelona and McGill University found that Korea ranked first among 43 surveyed countries in commute duration. The global average commute was 68 minutes, and Morocco had the shortest at 48 minutes — less than half of Korea’s figure.
Long commutes linked to obesity, hypertension, higher mortality
Cho Soo-hyun, a family medicine professor at Chung-Ang University Hospital, said that long commuting hours reduce time for physical activity and socializing, and often lead to late dinners and poor sleep. “These factors can cause weight gain, reduced exercise capacity and hypertension,” she said.
International research points to similar risks. A study from Washington University School of Medicine found that people with commuting distances of more than 24 kilometers were significantly more likely to develop obesity and lack of exercise. Even more striking, Sweden’s Umea University tracked individuals for 14 years and found that women with long commutes had a 54 percent higher mortality rate than women with shorter travel times.
Extended commuting erodes essential health routines such as sleep, exercise and leisure activities. Cho warned, “Stress caused by long commutes can increase blood sugar, blood pressure and cholesterol levels, raising the risk of cardiovascular disease and even death.” She added that people with long commutes are more prone to depression, anxiety, social isolation, irritability, cognitive decline, poor sleep quality and musculoskeletal disorders.
Experts say many workers cannot realistically shorten their commute due to housing costs and job locations, making in-transit health management increasingly important.
Lee Sang-yoon, a rehabilitation medicine professor at Chung-Ang University Hospital, advised, “When sitting on public transportation, avoid crossing your legs, sit with your hips close to the backrest, and keep your neck, back and shoulders straight to reduce stress on the spine and joints.”
He added that people who stand during their commute should stretch their knees and ankles regularly and repeatedly lift and lower their heels. “If using a smartphone or reading, turn your neck left and right every 20 minutes to prevent stiffness,” he said.
This article from Kormedi.com, Korea’s top health care and medical portal, is translated by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times.