Stand on one side or both? Korea mulls nationwide escalator etiquette
Participants during a debate hosted by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety at Yonsei University on Saturday were sharply divided over escalator etiquette. While a majority called for standing on both sides for safety and formally adopting the practice as government policy, a vocal opposing camp argued that passengers should stand on one side during rush hour. Standing on one side takes root…
A recent debate at Yonsei University sparked differing opinions on the proper etiquette for using escalators in Korea. Some argued that passengers should stand on both sides of the escalator to ensure safety, while others believed that standing on one side during rush hour would be more efficient. The practice of alternating sides on escalators gained popularity between 1998 and 2008, with the 2002 World Cup serving as a catalyst for its widespread adoption.
However, the trend led to an increase in accidents, with the number nearly doubling from 44 in 2007 to 85 in 2008, according to the National Elevator Information Center. The push for more accidents resulted in greater emphasis on equipment maintenance concerns.
Written by urgent.news from The Korea Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
