5 Korean stars who love taking the metro: G-Dragon has a Lamborghini, Rolls-Royce and Bentley but still rides the train, while Park Bo-gum has said he’ll never give it up
On the flipside, some A-listers seem to prefer more modest means of travel, like the metro. They even enjoy using it, although their managers are wary because of the risk of being mobbed by fans.
So, have you ever bumped into these celebrities while on the subway in Korea?
1. Park Bo-gum
Actor Park Bo-gum has gone on record saying that public transport is the one thing that he can never give up, in his interview with The Star magazine in 2016. The Reply 1988 and The Encounter star is widely known to love taking the metro when he’s not on a work-related schedule because he finds it convenient.
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According to Soompi, Park also cited cost and time as reasons for taking the subway when he has to meet someone, as it is the fastest and always on time. Furthermore, he can reach anywhere in Seoul paying just 1,300 Korean won (US$1.09).
His agency worries that fans could crowd him during his public appearances and create dangerous situations. Fans, however, would probably be delighted to bump into Park in the metro.
2. G-Dragon
But despite his reputation as a supercar collector, G-Dragon is another Korean star who loves to use the metro. In May 2015, he uploaded a photo of his subway card on Instagram.
Later in the day, many metro riders posted photos of him on the metro on social media. Although he covered himself from head to toe, wearing a hat, sunglasses and mask, his distinctive fashion sense made him recognisable to fans riding the subway.
3. Former I.O.I members Choi Yoo-jung and Jeon So-mi
Girl band I.O.I made its debut on Korea’s popular reality show Produce 101 in 2016, and went on to gain much attention and love from fans globally.
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4. Won Bin
Back in November 2012, he was spotted at a metro station in Seoul wearing a plain jacket and still looking immaculate. Since there was hardly any difference between his fashion and looks in films and real life, fans commented that “he shines no matter what he wears”, and “the final touch to fashion is really the face”.
5. Ha Jung-woo
Along with the Gods star Ha Jung-woo has also showed up on the metro – and it was even during rush hour. In September 2019, he posted a photo on Instagram saying he was “off work on the metro as there is a traffic jam outside”. He was at Pangyo station, which is popular for start-up companies and many media events. It was the day he had a press conference with a fashion brand, and in his post, he did not forget to thank to those who came all the way to Pangyo to support him.
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He was wearing a black mask and black cap before getting on the metro, but was bold enough to take off the mask inside.
- K-pop idols like Exo’s Chanyeol and former Girls’ Generation member Jessica Jung own garages full of luxury cars … but some don’t mind using public transport instead
- After girl group I.O.I’s debut on reality show Produce 101, ex-members Choi Yoo-jung and Jeon So-mi excited fans when a photo surfaced of them on a train in casual wear