“You should give it up if asked” vs. “Why, when there are empty seats?” ... Controversy over priority seats for pregnant women [What do you think?]

[Financial News]  Online opinion was divided over the story of a pregnant woman who said she asked a middle-aged woman sitting in a priority seat for pregnant women on the subway to give it up, but was refused.

Some said it was justified for her to show her pregnancy badge and ask directly for the seat, while others wondered whether there was any need to create a conflict when there were empty seats nearby.

A post describing an incident involving a priority seat for pregnant women on Subway Line 5 was published on the online community Bobaedream on the 6th.

A said they were pregnant and carried a pregnancy badge, and that they had previously seen the same woman in her 50s sitting in a priority seat for pregnant women on that train on two occasions.

A claimed to have seen the same woman sitting in a priority seat for pregnant women three times. A wrote, “This was the third time I’d seen that woman in her 50s sitting in a priority seat for pregnant women,” and added, “This time, after putting up with it for a while, I showed her my pregnancy badge and directly asked her to give up the seat.” The other woman reportedly stayed in her seat without any notable response.

A said it was frustrating to repeatedly witness the same situation. A wrote, “If it happened once, it would be a mistake, but it’s frustrating to keep seeing someone sitting in a priority seat for pregnant women,” and argued, “People are allowed to sit there, but they should give up the seat if a pregnant woman asks.”

Some people who read the story said that, given the purpose of priority seats for pregnant women, the seat should be given up when an actual pregnant woman asks. They commented, “The seat is designated for pregnant women, so why should they have to feel self-conscious and sit somewhere else?”; “The seats for pregnant women have armrests. If someone asks, it’s right to give up the seat”; and “For a pregnant woman with limited mobility, a priority seat near the doors is naturally more convenient.”

Others responded that A’s request was excessive, pointing out that there were other empty seats nearby at the time. Some users said, “Why ask someone to get up when the seat next to them is empty?”; “Does a pregnant woman have to sit only in a priority seat for pregnant women?”; and “Was it necessary to make a public issue of it when there were empty seats?”


[email protected] Han Seung-gon Reporter