Bikes and Motorcycles in S. Korea: Not for Transportation

While bicycles and motorcycles were once popular means of transportation in South Korea during the 1960s and 70s, their role has shifted dramatically in recent decades. As the nation's economy rapidly developed and middle-class incomes rose, automobiles became increasingly affordable, leading to a decline in the use of bicycles and motorcycles as primary transportation.

Today, bicycles are primarily seen as high-end leisure or health products, with low-cost bikes occasionally used for basic transportation by the extremely impoverished. A similar trend is observed with motorcycles, with most being utilized by delivery workers from services like Uber Eats.

This shift in perception and usage makes it challenging to recommend bicycles as a viable transportation option in Korea. The limited number of cyclists has eroded the culture of road courtesy towards them, and they are often viewed negatively as disruptive elements in the traffic flow.