Bullets start to fly in South Korea this week

AFP , SEOUL
Monday, Mar 29, 2004,Page 12

South Korea's first bullet train goes into service this week promising to transform people's lives by easing chronic traffic congestion.

After 14 trillion won (US$12 billion) of investment and years of delay caused by the 1997 Asian financial crisis and major engineering obstacles, the 300kmh train will open for business on Thursday on two lines linking Seoul to Busan in the southeast and Mokpo in the southwest.

The construction of the new rail system, dubbed Korea Train Express (KTX), is considered a seminal national event here, on a par with the completion of South Korea's first highway from Seoul to Busan, 428km south, in 1970.

Many more highways have been added since then, but road-building was overtaken by the number of vehicles in the intervening years, leaving South Korea's transport costs among the highest in the world.

http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/worldbiz/archives/2004/03/29/2003108235

Sorry Charlie, America missed the boat on public transportation! I love riding the trains/subways in Asia! They're more like Disney rides than transporation. I love just walking out of my home and in a few minutes we're on a hi-speed train to dinner, climbing, movie...

I got on this Light Rail in San Jose, CA. I almost could walk faster. And I think I'm the only one who actually bought a ticket. No one is around to take or look for your ticket. The only time I saw any official person is when a boy was murdered on it last month and the city put some security guards with mace on the platforms.

Beats the hell out of riding in Korean traffic.

When in Korea stay off the roads if possible, you'll live longer.