The Day I Trusted a Subway App and Ended Up in Suwon Instead of Hongdae

 

I had to meet a friend in Hongdae. I opened an app. It was blue. Or green. I don’t remember.


It said: “Line 2, Car 4-3, Door 2. Fastest Exit.”


I felt like a pro. Walked to Car 4-3. Stood at Door 2. Like the app was my dad and I was a good son.


The train came. I got on. Sat down. Looked at my phone.


20 minutes later the announcer said “Suwon.”


Suwon. Not Hongdae. Suwon is a different city. With a fortress. I was supposed to get ramyeon. I got a fortress.


I texted my friend “I think I’m in Suwon.” He replied “lol.” I rode the train back for an hour. I was late. And hungry.



Naver Map app displaying public transit directions between two Seoul subway stations in English

I Used a Map App and It Told Me to Walk Through a Building


I needed to find a cafe in Myeongdong. I typed the name. In English.


The app showed a blue line. Through alleys. Then straight through a building.


I thought “Korean apps are so advanced. They know secret shortcuts.”


I walked into the building. It was a department store. Perfume section. I followed the blue dot. It went through the Chanel counter.


A lady in a uniform stared at me. I smiled. Kept walking. Ended up in the loading dock.


The cafe was behind the building. I went around. 30 minutes late. My iced americano was warm. The app was technically right. I went “through” the building. I’m an idiot.



Subway Korea application showing fastest transfer and optimal subway car number for Seoul Metro

I Tried to Call a Taxi With an App and Forgot I Don’t Have a Korean Number


It was raining. 2 AM. I was in Gangnam. Alone.


I opened the taxi app. Yellow one. Put in my destination. Pressed the big button.


Error message. In red. Something about “phone verification.”


I don’t have a Korean number. I’m on tourist SIM. I forgot.


I stood in the rain for 10 minutes pressing the button. Like it would change its mind. It didn’t.


I ended up waving at a cab like my grandpa would. He stopped. I got in soaking wet. Said the place name. He nodded.


We drove in silence. I dripped on his seat. He didn’t charge me extra. Bless that man.



Traveler using Kakao T app to book a taxi on a street in Seoul at night

I Booked a Train Ticket and Had to Stand for 2 Hours


I wanted to go to Busan. For the weekend.


I opened the train app. All seats “Sold Out.” But there was a button. “Standing.”


I thought “How bad can it be?” I clicked it. Paid. Got a QR code. Felt proud.


I got on the train. It was packed. Like a can of sardines. I stood between cars.


For 2 hours and 15 minutes. My legs fell asleep. Then woke up. Then gave up.


A grandma sat on a tiny folding stool she brought. She offered me half a piece of gimbap. I almost cried.


I got to Busan. Couldn’t feel my feet. Went straight to a PC bang to sit down. Played games for 3 hours just to rest.



KTX mobile ticket QR code displayed in the KorailTalk app for intercity travel in Korea

Summary


I thought apps would save me.


The subway app sent me to Suwon. The map app sent me through a department store. The taxi app rejected me for not having a number. The train app made me stand for 2 hours.


📌 Things I Noticed


  • The apps are smart: Smarter than me. They send me to different cities. Through perfume counters.
  • I am not smart: I trust blue dots. I trust “Fastest Exit.” I end up in loading docks.
  • If you’re new: Don’t trust the “4-3, Door 2” thing. Check the direction first. And bring a folding stool if you book “Standing.”

This is just what happened to me. I don’t know how the apps work. I’m not a tech guy. Don’t ask me for directions. I still get lost going to the convenience store.

👉 Discover more Korea guides here

You may also be interested in:Korean Diet Trends: What Koreans Are Actually Eating Right Now

👉 [Next in this series]:  The Night I Drove Around Gangnam for 20 Minutes and the App Just Laughed at Me

👉 [Previously in this series]: The Day I Saw Three Grandmas Laughing Over Soup and Realized I’m Aging Wrong

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