Goodbye vending machines

All snack stands and vending machines located inside subway stations in Seoul are scheduled for removal by 2020, according to the Seoul Metro Sunday. Yonhap

snack stands, machines will join phone booths' demise

By Kim Hyun-bin

Vending machines and snack stands located inside subway stations in Seoul will be history starting 2020.

Seoul Metro announced Sunday the move is to facilitate foot traffic on subway platforms.

Also, with a growing number of consumers using e-commerce platforms to purchase daily necessities via smartphones, the need for snack stands and vending machines has diminished.

Korea's policy for a coinless society has also led people to make less use of them, analysts say.

“The vending machines and snack bars in subway stations hinder foot traffic, and become an obstacle in emergencies,” a Seoul Metro official said.

“Considering these reasons we plan to remove them.”

Snack stands sell a variety of products from newspapers to beverages and earphones.

There are 151 stands installed throughout the city that are scheduled to be removed by 2020.

The city plans to remove 16 vacant snack stands starting this year.

“It's a shame the city plans to remove the stores and vending machines,” said Lee Jung-ho, a Seoul resident. “I take the subway often and sometimes use them, when thirsty. I have never thought it got in my way.”

A Seoul Metro official said, “Since the city decided to remove the stands, we will no longer advertise or receive applicants to run the stands.”

To systematically remove the stands, the Seoul Metro plans to go through negotiations with the current lease owners.

“We plan to reduce the stands one by one until each contract expires,” the official said. “Even if the contract exceeds the year 2020, we are looking to move the stands to the station's waiting areas.”

The city has rented out the stands to help the livelihoods of people in need including people 65 years or older, the handicapped and single parents.

Concerns over small biz

Some people are voicing concerns the removal could negatively affect the store owners.

“By removing the stands it could affect the livelihoods of the owners,” said Park Chi-hyoung, a Seoul resident. “The city should find another location for the owners to sell their goods not on the platform, but maybe on the floor above.”

Out of the 151 stands, more than two-thirds of their contracts will expire before 2020.

However the remaining 40 stands' leases are scheduled to end in August 2020.

“We are currently negotiating with the owners to move the stands by 2020,” the official said.

Not only the stands but also snack and beverage vending machines are scheduled for removal.

There are 418 beverage and 212 snack vending machines inside subway stations in Seoul. About 180 are operated by private enterprises.