Unlike Montreal, the metro is constantly being expanded and improved in this “public transit paradise”.

Seoul | Unlike the island of Montreal, where no new metro station has been built in 36 years, Seoul has a constantly evolving metro network. Since every neighborhood wants its own station, it is natural that it should be expanded.

The Korean capital already has a reputation as a “public transportation paradise,” but thanks to its integrated real-time management, it wants to become “the world's best city for commuting.”

While Mayor Valery Plante is waiting for the Pink Line and the Blue Line, in Seoul, on the contrary, lines and stations are constantly being added to the network.

There was also a 14.7 km line under construction during our visit in the famous Gangnam area. “It's a no-brainer that we expand the network,” says Andrew Lim, research and innovation attaché at the Quebec office in Seoul, who accompanied him. Newspaper During part of our mission in South Korea. The office was upgraded to delegation status a few days after our visit.

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Seoul Subway is known as one of the most efficient subways in the world. It is used by 8 million people daily. Even during peak periods, we travel efficiently in a clean and safe environment, enhanced by legendary Korean discipline.

Stephanie Martin

Strong request

Yongjin Ahn, head of the Seoul government's Advanced Future Transportation Department, agrees that demand is very strong. Everyone wants a metro in their area. “Depending on traffic and public demand, we are adding lines and stations.” Each new area is inevitably connected to the network.

The metro is a real underground city, where, in addition to the stations, there are shopping arcades with everything you might need, from clothes to pharmaceutical products to food.

The shopping lanes are very crowded in Seoul Metro.

Stephanie Martin

We operate efficiently in a clean and safe environment, enhanced by legendary Korean discipline. During rush hours, the metro is crowded, but no one is in a rush. The train always arrives on time.

Seoul Subway is known as one of the most efficient subways in the world. It is used by 8 million people daily. Even during peak periods, we travel efficiently in a clean and safe environment, enhanced by legendary Korean discipline.

Stephanie Martin

It is the hub of the city's public transportation network, says the Seoul City Government.

“Seoul strives to become the best mobility city in the world by innovating for the future, transcending its reputation as a public transportation paradise.”

The numbers prove it: more than two-thirds of Seoul residents use public transportation to get around. In Montreal and Quebec, we are talking barely between 16% and 8%.

• Listen to the interview with Stephanie Martin, municipal affairs journalist for the Journal de Québec on the Richard Martineau show via QUB :

Technology to improve traffic

On the surface, the city is criss-crossed with cameras and sensors that measure all traffic data, which is sent to the Transport Operation and Information Service (TOPIS) control center. It closely monitors what is happening on the roads in real time to improve traffic flow.

Youngjin Ahn, head of the Seoul government's Advanced Future Transportation Department, introduces the TOPIS control center, which closely monitors what's happening on the roads in real time to improve traffic flow.

Stephanie Martin

The system detects accidents and congestion, changes route configurations and sends messages to users in real time, telling them the correct routes to take.

Therefore, you should not be surprised to get a ticket after violating the highway law. TOPIS also monitors cars entering the green zone in the city center and automatically imposes fines on the owner of a polluting car that enters illegally.

The TOPIS Control Center closely monitors what is happening on the roads in real time to improve traffic flow.

Stephanie Martin