Transport

1. What methods of transport are most popular in your country?

   여러분의 나라에서는 어떤 교통수단이 인기가 많나요?

2. Do you agree the government should do more to encourage greener methods of transport?

여러분은 정부가 친환경 교통수단을 장려하기 위해 더 노력해야 한다고 생각하나요?

3. Do you think that transport problems are worse in urban or rural areas?

    여러분은 도시나 시골에서 교통문제가 더 심각하다고 생각하나요?

4. What measures could be taken to reduce problems of congestion in cities?

   도시의 교통혼잡문제를 줄이기 위한 방법으로 어떤 것이 있을까요?

5. How is the traffic condition in your country?

   여러분 나라의 교통은 어떤가요?

6. Which is more convenient - driving your own car or using public transport?

     자가용을 운전하는 것과 대중교통을 이용하는 것 중 무엇이 더 편리한가요?

7. What is the main cause of traffic congestion?

   교통혼잡의 주요 원인은 무엇인가요?

8. What do you think will happen to public transport in 50 years’ time?

    50년 후의 대중 교통은 어떤 모습일까요?

< Sample answer >

1. What methods of transport are most popular in your country?

Erm... In my opinion, the most popular mode of transportation is buses. I mean, whereas only sprawling cities have an underground system, bus networks are spread throughout the country. For example, express buses run between cities, and local buses cover smaller regions. Also... buses have a very convenient payment system where you can pay the fare with your credit or debit card, and it’s free when you transfer from the subway. So basically... Because of its convenience and well-connected networks, buses are the most popular form of transport in Korea.

2. Do you agree the government should do more to encourage greener methods of transport?Sure, I totally agree. There are plenty of steps the government could take... One is that they could build cycle lanes to make bike travel safer and easier, and encourage the public to get from A to B using a bike... Another is that they could place congestion charges on cars travelling through cities, which might convince people to opt for public transport on their morning commute... Also, I guess they could increase the number of bus lanes so bus travel is quicker. So the government could certainly do more.

3. Do you think that transport problems are worse in urban or rural areas?

Erm... In general, in Korea, urban areas have more transport problems than rural areas, especially in Seoul. Seoul and its greater area have a population of more than 30 million, so it’s very densely populated and overcrowded. Also... most company headquarters are located in Seoul, so... All of that results in a massive traffic influx in and out of Seoul , which causes severe traffic congestion and environmental problems, including air pollution. Urban areas have better transport links but that doesn’t really compensate, in my opinion... So yeah, transport issues are more severe in cities.

4. What measures could be taken to reduce problems of congestion in cities?

 Well... I think there are a few measures... Clearly the focus needs to be placed on reducing the number of cars on the road, so I’d say the public need to be persuaded to use other forms of transport like buses and bikes... So, the government could implement a scheme where only certain drivers can travel on certain days depending on license plate, for instance... Or the government could subsidise public transport to make it cheaper and a more attractive alternative to cars... And car-pooling could be encouraged through government campaigns. So those are a few steps.

5. How is the traffic condition in your country?

In general, I’d say it’s fairly good. I mean, Korea is a small country with a good infrastructure... Trains and buses connect every corner of the country. Also we have well-developed highways and most of time they’re well-maintained... Many different smaller routes are built to reach every part of Korea. But large cities like Seoul have a huge influx of traffic every day. Also, when it is a big national holiday like New Year’s or Thanksgiving there’s a mass exodus of people to their hometown and there are always severe congestion issues. So it’s generally good, but sometimes aggravated.

6. Which is more convenient - driving your own car or using public transport?
I’d say they both have their own advantages. I mean... Driving your own car is more relaxing because you don’t have to be in the vehicle with other people that you don’t know. That said, it becomes very inconvenient when you have to find a parking spot in a busy place. On the other hand, using public transport is cost-effective and environmentally friendly. It’s also cheaper and you don’t have to worry about a parking-spot. So it depends.

7. What is the main cause of traffic congestion?

Traffic congestion in Korea is mostly caused by overcrowding. Big cities in Korea are extremely densely populated, especially in Seoul... It’s the worst at rush hour... The flow of traffic in and out of city becomes so heavy that even minor events like a car breaking down or double parking can cause a massive traffic jam. It’s also often affected by signals or other events at junctions as well. Also when a road narrows down, it causes bottlenecking, which eventually leads to traffic congestion. But the main reason is overcrowding.

8. What do you think will happen to public transport in 50 years’ time?

Erm... It’s hard to predict what will happen in 50 years’ of time because everything these days changes at a rapid speed, but whatever happens, public transport will be developed and transformed to meet people’s needs and to carry more passengers effectively and safely. It’s also safe to say that greener technology will be introduced to public transport systems... It’s possible that many countries will adapt hybrid buses or hydrogen-powered buses to reduce gasoline usage. Right now, green technology is too expensive to be commercialized, but it won’t be in 50 years. So those are a few predictions.

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