A 63-year-old female named Lee lives in Daejeon, in the center of the peninsula, but visits a hospital in Seoul to receive medical treatment once in a month. It takes Lee about one hour and 50 minutes from her house to the hospital using the Korea Train Express (KTX) bullet train.

She used to get medical treatment for high blood pressure and diabetes at a Daejeon hospital, but after the high-speed rail system began its service in 2004, she moved her treatment to a Seoul hospital. "I have to spend more money for transportation, but I am satisfied," Lee said.

A 37-year-old resident of Daegu, located in the southeastern part of the peninsula, rode the KTX to Seoul to take part in a get-together of friends last weekend. She returned home late at night the same day. "I couldn’t think of going to Seoul in the past for these kinds of things, but now I frequently go to Seoul to view performances or art exhibitions due to the KTX."

Three years after South Korea’s high-speed railway began its operation, Seoul - which holds a dominant position in terms of education, medical care, and cultural events - is absorbing the manpower and resources of the provinces.

Cheonan in South Chungcheong Province and Daejeon, both one hour away from Seoul by the high-speed train, are referred to as "Seoul’s Cheonan and Daejeon districts." Metropolitan areas are gradually being overpopulated with wealthy, well-educated people."

According to the National Health Insurance Corporation, the number of Daejeon residents who use medical facilities located in Seoul rose by about 10,000 persons to 65,524 in 2005 from 57,196 in 2004. Total annual medical fees paid to hospitals and medical centers in Seoul nationwide also increased to more than 31.5 billion won from over 26 billion won.

A survey of professors at two universities in Daejeon conducted by The Hankyoreh showed that in 1994, 12 of them, or 6.03 percent out of 199 total professors, commuted from Seoul in 2004. By May this year, the figure had increased to 33, or 13.25 percent out of 249 professors at the two schools. At another university in Daejeon, 53 professors, or 19.7 percent out of 269, currently live in the Seoul metropolitain area, compared to 30, or 11.9 percent out of 252, in 2005. A professor at one of the Daejeon universities surveyed said, "Professors of advertisement and design should know the fashion trends in Seoul’s Gangnam district. I chose Seoul as my home in order to smoothly communicate with those in the same field. I also had the problem of providing the best education for my children."

The number of commuters between Seoul and Daejeon using the KTX increased to 215,000 in 2006 from 137,000 in 2005.

A professor at a university in Daegu said, "I used to go to my home in Seoul only on weekends, but now I occasionally go to Seoul on weekdays, as well. An increasing number of professors live like this."

Please direct questions or comments to [englishhani@hani.co.kr]