All the subway cars and stations that I've been in are extremely clean. Like ridiculously clutter-free. I have noticed elderly aged men and women walking through the subway cars picking up newspapers left behind and/or picking up trash. I'm not sure how the system works, but I have also noticed that a rider will stop reading his newspaper and hand it to one of these house elf-esk collectors. I wonder what that's all about.
The subway etiquette is also very interesting. In a metropolitan area that serves 29.5 million people, riders are shockingly polite. It really shows how Seoulites are conscious of their neighbors. Except for the usual push or nudge from an ajima (or older married Korean woman) I have found: riders keep their headphones at a reasonable volume, they cover their mouthes and lower their volume when talking on the phone, board and de-board the sleek subway cars in a rushed yet orderly fashion, and during rush hours, they pack themselves in little lines between the seats; similar to sardines. Another thing I've noticed is the amount of riders who are watching TV on there phones. Usually they have a small needle like antenna projecting out receiving a signal. Although they are watching TV, I have never been bothered by their screens, volume, or antenna. I can just say that I would NEVER observe any of this behavior in the US!!
The only complaint I have is the schedule. The subway is up and running quite early, but....they stop running at midnight Monday-Thursday and Friday-Sunday the last train is usually at 11:30pm. This schedule really makes no sense at all because there are bars, clubs, and restaurants that stay open until 2am or 3am or even until 10am! Kind of counterintuitive, but I guess it's an excuse to stay out partying until at least 5:30am.
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