Seoul Subway Ranked Sixth in World

I only had 2 days experience in Paris, and that was 12 years ago and before I saw Korea's. My memory is of it as just older looking that Seoul's but like you would expect a subway to be.

Tokyo's seemed brighter and clearner than in general in Korea, but I didn't like it much at all due to the cost and confusion – especially the cost…which is something I didn't like about Tokyo overall.

I am a more practicle kind of person. I don't need all the frills and special touches – unless it is comfortable seating and ample vending machines or places to get a snack or even meal.

One of the things I loved about Korea and miss is the abundant, cheap transportation.

Life in the rural and semi-rural and even suburbs (pretty much everywhere except the big cities that have public transportation) would be a lot better and productive and convienent if we had the same kind of taxis, buses, and trains as South Korea…

I would rate Seoul's above Tokyo's only because you do not run the risk of having to pay an additional fare if you change subway lines in Seoul. Taipei's is also nice, but nowhere near as extensive as those listed.

I've heard many people mention difficulty finding English signs in Tokyo's subway system, but through my personal experiences I've yet to see one that doesn't have English.

I've only been going to Japan for the last 4 years or so, so I can only speak of the situation in the recent years, but is it possible that these experiences are from much longer ago?

If anyone remembers more details as to where they saw the signs that didn't have English (however if there was no English, it's possible you didn't know where you were 😉 ) please share the location. But at least for the actual subways in Tokyo (and all ground level trains too really), there shouldn't be a station that doesn't have English on it.

I thought the Seoul subway was better than the ones in either London or Paris.

And I thought for sure we’d see the Pyongyang Metro on that list…

I can't remember well to Seoul in 1996……if the English signs were always around or not……I do seem to remember that by 2000 – the subway stops looked newer (after renovation) and cleaner, but they really weren't "dirty" to me when I first arrived. They just looked a little old.

Of course, I refused to use the restrooms until 2000 or 2002 – because I wasn't going to squat… 😮

But, as far a signs, Korea's writing system was so easy to memorize, even if the maps and signs didn't have English, you could sound out the names.

USinKorea wrote:

"But, as far a signs, Korea’s writing system was so easy to memorize, even if the maps and signs didn’t have English, you could sound out the names."

How many foreigners besides myself learned to read Hangeul by matching Korean and English letters on the large, round bilingual signboards in every station?

In France, and this was before I went to Korea, though I could read French, to make sure I got on the right trains or was going in the right direction, I'd look any Asian from late teens to late 30s who looked like a tourist too – and I'd ask them in English what was what. —– I knew all the northeast Asian nations made English mandatory in schools. Worked everytime I tried it…

In Japan you might not find English on the signs in some country stations. However, in my experiencel, you will find that the locals are polite and friendly and will try to help you if you simply walk up to the nearest subway official and look lost.

I once asked a stranger waiting on a train near Sapporo which way to go for the station I was looking for and since he did not know, he suddenly ran to the top of the subway entrance leaving me on the platform and got a subway official to come down and help me out.

I've travelled on all the first 7 listed and I would rate Seoul as the top in terms

of speed, comfort, facilities, cost, environment, ease of use,reliablity and interoperability with buses.

However the virgin piece does not actually list what criteria they are using to rank

them, and just seems to have come up with : gee here are 11 big subway systems!

Some of the Moscow stations are truely incredible works of art with murals, lighting and paintwork in amazing colours and detail.

London's Underground in comparison has tiny trains, no air con, no toilets at stations, can't use mobile phones, often delays, clapped out shabby stations ( though that is improving these days) ,very expensive, complicated fare rules when trying to interchange with the overground rail network, very very little foreign language signs or help ( though that is improving with the new ticket machines) and interchange with buses only works if you have a "travelcard", a concept that does not exist here in Seoul.

You show a Korean a average London station and they will laugh at how small and shabby it is.

Still London was the first underground railway in the world, and those tunnels are still in daily use today ( between Kings Cross and Baker Street )

I don't know what ignorant homebody made that list… but everyone who is Anyone well knows the best subway in the world is in Serfaus.

The route map is incredibly well organized and very easy to understand. All areas of the city are within walking distance of a subway stop. The stops are ultra-clean and reasonably modern.

The subway itself runs on an air cushion like a hovercraft so the ride is incredibly smooth and vibration-free.

The price is also much, much, much more reasonable than every other subway on the list.

J!