Have you ever sat down on a subway seat and been startled by how warm it was underneath you? There was even a foreign student who thought it was broken and jumped right up. ## What a search tells you "In the cold season, subway seats have heating elements." If you search, this one line is what comes up. ## Why that answer alone isn't enough This answer is missing when and where it's warm. The seats start heating up when it gets chilly, so many people first notice it as autumn deepens. But not every train has it. Even on the same line, some trains are warm and others are cold. That's because old trains and new trains run together. Why care about this? Koreans feel at ease when the seat they sit on is warm. That's because they're used to having ondol, a heated floor, at home. I can't say that's the only reason, but that kind of feeling is definitely there. Besides, people ride the subway for a long time every day, so a cold seat in winter is quite hard to bear. ## Good to Know in Practice If you come across a warm seat, it isn't broken, so go ahead and sit down comfortably. On the other hand, if the seat is cold, it's because it varies from train to train. The next train might be warm. Koreans like warm seats too. So please be sure to check seats like the priority seats, where you may need to give up your place. Train facilities can change, so if you're curious, ask on the website of each subway operator or ask station staff.