Choosing Transportation
Explaining “why I chose this” in words matters more than the right answer. Listen to the reasons all the way through.
How should Mr. Kim go to the appointment place?
Mr. Kim has an important appointment at 6:00 p.m. and now has an hour left. It takes 35 minutes by subway or 30 minutes by bus to get to the appointment place, Gang-Nam station.
Sample answer
Mr. Kim can arrive on time either way. The bus is 5 minutes faster, but traffic can be heavy around 6 in the evening, so it is safer to take the subway, which arrives on a reliable schedule.
How should Mr. Oh get to work?
Mr. Oh wakes up at 8:10 and has to get to work by 9:00. It takes 1 hour by bus, 45 minutes by subway, or 30 minutes by subway and taxi. It costs 2,600 won to take the bus, 1,500 won to take the subway, or 3,000 won to take the subway and taxi.
The won is the Korean currency. The exact amounts don’t matter much; what matters is which option is cheaper or more expensive.
Sample answer
Mr. Oh has 50 minutes until he must be at work. The bus (1 hour) would make him late, and the subway (45 minutes) would only just get him there if he left the house right away. Allowing time to get ready, taking the subway and then switching to a taxi (30 minutes) is the best choice, even though it costs a little more.