Elderly Man Tried to Pull Young Woman from Priority Seat on Line 2; She Resisted by Kicking Him [What Do You Think?] [Video]

[Financial News] A video showing an elderly man attempting to forcibly pull a woman from a priority seat for passengers with mobility needs on Seoul Subway Line 2, leading to a physical altercation, has sparked controversy online.

On the 15th, a 14-second video titled “Priority Seats for Elderly and Other Passengers in Need on Line 2” was posted on social media platform X (formerly Twitter). The uploader, identified only as Person A, wrote, “So many people with no sense of propriety sit in priority seats. I guess you just have to let it go. It’s not that I’m avoiding it because I’m afraid of it.” The post surpassed 3.5 million views within a day and quickly spread across various online communities.
In the video, the elderly man wearing a fedora points aggressively at a woman sitting in the priority seat and demands that she stand up.
When the woman refused with a hand gesture, the man grabbed her clothing and tried to pull her out by force. The video shows her screaming, gripping a grab pole and strongly resisting by kicking him.

Reactions among viewers were divided. Some criticized the woman’s behavior, saying, “Even so, waving your hand at an elderly person and telling them to go is really something,” “If someone was raised and brought up properly, 80 to 90 percent of people would give up their seat when an elderly person comes along,” and “Kicking him was going too far, wasn’t it?”
Others strongly condemned the elderly man’s use of force. They countered, “It’s a priority seat, not a mandatory seat,” “If someone does not give up the seat, you should just let it go; trying to forcibly take it like that is violence,” and “The elderly man pointed his finger aggressively and used violence first.”
Many also urged caution, noting that it is impossible to know the circumstances of the person sitting in the seat. One commenter wrote, “It is not a seat exclusively for the elderly, but a priority seat for passengers with mobility needs. Anyone who is elderly, ill regardless of age, pregnant, or traveling with a young baby can sit there,” earning widespread agreement.

One commenter who said they were recovering from a cerebral infarction wrote, “I lose strength after standing for 20 to 30 minutes, so I sit in a priority seat when one becomes available, but I feel extremely self-conscious. I cannot walk around with my medical certificate pinned to my chest.”
Another commenter who said they had undergone cancer treatment cautioned against rushing to condemn the woman, writing, “She is in the prime of her youth, but seeing her dressed entirely in black, bundled up, and appearing desperate and embittered, she may have circumstances similar to what I went through back then. Even if she has no particular reason, she should never be dragged out just for being rude.”
Others argued that the priority-seat system itself should be revised, saying, “In a world where consideration for others has disappeared, priority seats only create social conflict. They should either be turned into designated seats or eliminated.”

[email protected] Seong Min-seo Reporter