[Letters] Gyeongui line not so old

Some clarification may be in order for Thursday’s J-Style article on the Gyeongui railroad line, which states it is the “oldest” rail line in South Korea. It would be accurate to say it is the oldest line operated entirely by the national railroad operator Korail. The first and oldest railroad line in the country was the Gyeongin line, which began running in 1899 between Noryangjin, Seoul, and Jemulpo (present-day Incheon), some seven years earlier than the Gyeongui line.

However, while the Gyeongui line is still run by Korail, an eight-kilometer underground portion of the east-west Gyeongin line between Seoul’s Guro and Cheongnyangni stations has since been folded into the Seoul subway system. For the remainder of its distance, it still runs above ground and is operated by Korail.

Joel Levin, Seoul