I have the privilege to travel all parts of Seoul, so I am going to write a little about the lifestyle disparity based on region. Traveling around using the subway, you can notice the different of lifestyle of a certain region by observing the fellow passengers.

In southern Seoul, or areas below the Han River, the region tends to be wealthy. There are a lot of your western-style clothing as well as sun glasses, which you really don’t need them in the subway, that dominate the car’s atmosphere. Most people are listening to music, watching TV (via Digital Multimedia Broadcast), or talk on their cell phones. It’s a very anti-social crowd.

Now, in some parts of northern Seoul the subway atmosphere is dominated by the older generations. Grand fathers and mothers of Korea are not that wealthy compared to the younger generation, but they are quite friendly and social with their small conversations among themselves. Sure, many of them are living in a much more difficult economic life, but they also have the richest social life, which transcends the lifestyle of music players and cell phones.

I am wondering this difference in lifestyle is based on generation.