Korean News English

Your Gateway to English News from Korea – Enhancing Speaking, Vocabulary, and Reading Comprehension

Jamsil Station Becomes Seoul's Busiest Subway Station - Upper Intermediate

Published: May 24, 2024

Contents

  1. Vocabulary
  2. Warm-up
  3. Article
  4. True/False Questions
  5. Multiple Choice Questions
  6. Gap Fill
  7. Concluding Questions
  8. Synonym Matching

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary Korean Translation Sample Sentence
Congested 혼잡한 The subway was very congested during rush hour.
In comparison 비교하여 In comparison to last year, the station is busier.
Used to be ~이었다 Gangnam Station used to be the busiest station.
Crowded 붐비는 The train was so crowded this morning.
Traffic congestion 교통 혼잡 Traffic congestion is a big problem in the city.
Noted 언급된 Seoul Metro noted the increase in passengers.
For instance 예를 들어 For instance, Waterloo Station is also very busy.
Hub 중심지 Shinjuku Station is a major transport hub.
Efficiency 효율성 The subway's efficiency makes commuting easier.
Worldwide 전 세계적으로 The subway system is known worldwide.

Warm-Up Questions (Speaking)

  1. Why do you think Jamsil Station has become the busiest station in Seoul?
  2. How does traffic congestion in Seoul affect your daily life?
  3. Why do you think people prefer subways over cars in busy cities like Seoul?
  4. What are some benefits of having a highly efficient subway system?
  5. Have you ever used the subway during rush hour? How was your experience?

Article

SEOUL, May 23 (Yonhap) -- Jamsil Station on Seoul's Subway Line No. 2 is now the busiest station in the capital, surpassing Gangnam Station. Over 150,000 passengers use Jamsil Station every day, according to Seoul Metro on Thursday.

In the first four months of this year, Jamsil Station in southeastern Seoul had an average of 155,229 passengers per day. In comparison, Gangnam Station had 151,607 passengers per day. This data was gathered from all stations on Lines 1-9 by Seoul Metro.

Gangnam Station, located in southern Seoul, used to be the busiest station.

Gangnam and Jamsil are very crowded because the subway is faster and more convenient than cars in these areas, due to heavy traffic congestion.

Other busy stations with over 100,000 passengers per day include:

Seoul Metro also noted that the average number of subway users in Seoul per day was 8.8 million from January to April.

Compared to other major cities worldwide, Seoul's subway system is extremely busy. For instance, the London Underground's busiest station, Waterloo, handles about 100 million passengers annually, which translates to roughly 273,000 passengers per day. Similarly, Tokyo's Shinjuku Station is known as the world's busiest transport hub, with an average of 3.5 million passengers per day. While Seoul's numbers are slightly lower, they highlight the efficiency and popularity of the city's subway system.

Published: May 24, 2024

Source: Yonhap News

True/False Questions

  1. Jamsil Station is now the busiest station in Seoul. (True/False)
  2. Gangnam Station is located in southeastern Seoul. (True/False)
  3. The average number of passengers at Jamsil Station is over 155,000 per day. (True/False)
  4. Sillim Station has fewer than 100,000 passengers per day. (True/False)
  5. Waterloo Station in London handles around 273,000 passengers per day. (True/False)

Multiple Choice Questions

  1. Which station has become the busiest in Seoul?
    • a. Gangnam Station
    • b. Jamsil Station
    • c. Seoul Station
    • d. Hongik University Station
  2. Why are Gangnam and Jamsil stations very crowded?
    • a. They are the oldest stations.
    • b. There are many tourists.
    • c. The subway is faster and more convenient than cars.
    • d. They have many shops.
  3. Which city's station handles about 3.5 million passengers per day?
    • a. London
    • b. Seoul
    • c. Tokyo
    • d. New York
  4. What is the daily average number of passengers at Gangnam Station in the first four months of this year?
    • a. 147,356
    • b. 106,564
    • c. 151,607
    • d. 155,229
  5. How does Seoul's subway system compare to other major cities' systems in terms of busyness?
    • a. Extremely busy
    • b. Less busy
    • c. Not busy
    • d. Moderately busy

Gap Fill

  1. Jamsil Station is in __________ Seoul.
  2. The subway is faster because of heavy __________.
  3. Seoul Metro gathered data from all stations on Lines __________.
  4. The busiest station in London is __________.
  5. Tokyo's busiest station is __________ Station.
Word Bank: southeastern / congestion / 1-9 / Waterloo / Shinjuku

Concluding Questions (Speaking)

  1. What do you think are the biggest challenges for Seoul Metro in managing such a busy subway system?
  2. How do you think Seoul's subway system compares to other major cities around the world?
  3. What improvements would you suggest for the Seoul subway system?
  4. How important is public transportation in reducing traffic congestion in big cities?
  5. Can you think of any ways to make the subway experience better for passengers?

Synonym Matching

Match the key vocabulary from the article with their synonyms.

Key Vocabulary Synonym
Congested A. Busy
In comparison B. Contrast
Used to be C. Formerly
Crowded D. Packed
Traffic congestion E. Heavy traffic
Noted F. Mentioned
For instance G. For example
Hub H. Center
Efficiency I. Effectiveness
Worldwide J. Globally