They asked to borrow my subway seat for just one stop

A tweet went viral after someone gave up their seat to a polite stranger who said they'd only need it briefly.

Translated by Klore · Published

Source & context
Trending on a Korean communityView original post ↗
● Anyone gets itDaily lifeCulture shockHow much Korea-context this story assumes. English translations and context by Klore.
Korean community post, image 1: A cheerful little dancing cat, just for the vibe.
English translation
A cheerful little dancing cat, just for the vibe.

신나!

TwitterEnglish translation
Anonymous · 2026년 9월 14일

The person who slept like a rock on the subway.jpg지하철에서 푹 잔 사람.jpg

Something that happened on the subway today.오늘 지하철에서 있었던 일

There was an empty seat so I sat down, then someone politely asked, 'I'm getting off at the next station, could I sit for just a bit?' so I said sure and gave up my seat.자리가 비어있길래 앉았는데 어떤분이 정중하게 “저 다음역에 내리는데 잠시만 앉아도 될까요?” 라고 하셔서 네! 하고 자리를 양보했다.

But the moment they sat down they closed their eyes and fell into a long, deep sleep until I got off...하지만 그분은 자리에 앉자마자 바로 눈을 감으셨고 내가 내릴때까지 긴 수면에 빠지셨다...

7 replies on the original4.1k votes on the original
Trending on a Korean communityView original ↗
💡 Why is this so infuriating?
Why this stings: the whole exchange was a one-stop deal — the asker set the terms, then instantly defaulted on them, and Koreans in the replies argue the rider should've been woken up before the next station.vs. the US: like asking to borrow someone's parking spot for '5 minutes' and leaving the car there overnight.Klore note

What Koreans said

9 top comments on the original thread, translated
  1. 0 upvotes on the original thread
    Anon· on the original thread

    Then the guy woke up startled and went 'wait, fuck, is this already my stop?'

    그리고 그 분이 눈을뜨며 흠짓 놀라며 말했다 "아니 시발 여기가 여기야?"

  2. 0 upvotes on the original thread
    Anon· on the original thread

    Tried to give my seat to an old man, he refused saying he'd get off next stop, but he never did for several stops and I looked like an asshole.

    자리 양보 해드릴라 했는데 다음에 내리신다며 한사코 거절하신 할아버님은 수 정거장이 지나도 내리지 않으셧고 난 쓰레기가 되었다

  3. 0 upvotes on the original thread
    Anon· on the original thread

    In my 20s after 2 sleepless nights, fell asleep on line 2. Woke up 3 stops before where I got on. Thought 'shit, wrong direction' and got off, but direction was right—turns out I'd slept through almost a full loop.

    20대 시절 이틀 밤새고 2호선 타고 잠들었는데, 깨고보니 내가 탄역에서 뒤로 3개 역 전으로 가버림. ㅅㅂ 지하철 꺼꾸로 탔네하고 내렸더니 방향이 맞음. 알고보니 잠들어서 거의 한바퀴 돌아버림.

Read all 9 translated repliesShow fewer replies
  1. 0 upvotes on the original thread
    Anon· on the original thread

    I fell asleep on line 1 back when Suwon was the last stop, woke up only 2 stops moved so I relaxed and kept sleeping... turns out those were 2 stops AFTER hitting the terminal and coming back.

    저는 1호선 수원이 종점이던 시절 잠들었다 깼는데 2정거장 밖에 이동을 안해서 안심하고 더 잤는데, 나중에 방행 생각해보니 종점 찍고 나온 2정거장 ....

  2. 1 upvote on the original thread
    Anon· on the original thread

    Why didn't you just wake them up... lol

    깨워주지 그랬냐..ㅜㅜ

  3. 0 upvotes on the original thread
    Anon· on the original thread

    Normally when someone says that you wake them up when the next stop's coming up right? You just let them sleep??

    보통 저러면 다음역 거의다 왔을때 깨워주지 않나? 그냥 냅뒀다고?

  4. 0 upvotes on the original thread
    Anon· on the original thread

    If it's line 2 just ride the whole loop and get off next time lol

    2호선이면 한바퀴 돌고 다음에 내리면 됨

  5. 0 upvotes on the original thread
    Anon· on the original thread

    They must've been so exhausted to say that and immediately pass out... I'd forgive them tbh.

    얼마나 피곤했으면, 저런 말을 하고 바로 잠이 들었을까 싶어서... 난 용서해줄듯.

  6. 0 upvotes on the original thread
    Anon· on the original thread

    Must've been really tired... but still, lying is bad lol.

    얼마나 피곤했으면.... 그래도 거짓말은 나쁩니다

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