Motorcycles are the key to transportation of goods in Seoul. Seoul is a very
dense city of over 10 million (about 20 million counting the "satellite cities")
and traffic usually either crawls or stops. The motorcycles have some very
critical advantages over other vehicles. (Note that these advantages are NOT
directly reflected in traffic laws.):
 
1. Motorcycles can go between cars in stopped traffic.
2. Motorcycles can go between cars in slow traffic.
3. Motorcycles can go between cars in high speed traffic (if they have
enough power).
4. Motorcycles can drive on sidewalks.
5. Motorcycles can go opposite to normal traffic flow directions.
6. Motorcycles can go to the front of the traffic at red lights and then
run the light if they can snake through the cross traffic.
7. Motorcycles can carry anything that will fit on the carrier and get
under underpasses.
 
Deliveries have long been by motorcycle in Korea instead of the bicycles often seen
in other countries simply because all the hills and mountains make the bicycles of
little use. Quite a variety of motorcycles are used. Most are of local manufacture
under license from Honda and Suzuki. Most are single cylinder in the 125cc to 250cc
range although bigger bikes are appearing. Most have heavy duty rear racks, sometimes
reducing the seat to a very limited space. There are a few manufactured with special
long swing arms to give an increased wheelbase and cargo capacity. This bike is typical.
It has 7 bags of rice at 20kg each. That's 140 kg or over 300 pounds. This isn't such a
heavy load (from the looks of the rack it is meant to handle twice that load) but the
center of gravity is very high. A normal side stand or center stand is useless so you
can see the "prop rod" on the left side. This rod is either attached to the carrier or
carried for use when the rider stops.
 
 
Here, quantity is probably more of a concern than weight. This load probably includes
well over 100 dozen eggs, approaching 150 dozen. Just the thought of a little mishap
on the road with this setup leads to all sorts of "Warner Brothers Cartoon" scenarios.
 
The operators do have some concern about safety, in spite of the way they ride. Helmets
are becoming much more common, especially in the winter. Many of the riders now look a
bit like someone out of a Mad Max movie with body armor, shin guards and knee protectors,
heavy gloves, etc. However, this concern seems to be restricted to the heavy duty delivery
types. There are also a lot of "step through" and scooter riders who deliver small items
and restaurant meals. In the summer, the usual uniform consists of sandals, shorts, T-shirt
and ball cap. Of course, they are the ones most likely to be on the sidewalks so perhaps
this just evens the odds with the pedestrians.
 
 
Motorcycles come in many different varieties. There are many of these three wheel models
for serious hauling. This load is paper, piles and piles of paper. Just thinking about the
weight of paper, you realize there must be tons on this rig. A normal single cylinder
motorcycle engine is used, but it is turned sideways in the frame to drive a driveshaft
and a normal differential for the rear wheels.
 
 
The motorcycles are very noticeable (and often annoying) but the real "workhorse" in Korea
is the "Bongo" truck. Actually, there are Kia Bongo trucks and Hyundai Porter trucks. They
appear to be virtually identical. Korean auto companies do not produce pickup trucks. These
small trucks are cabover models with short sided beds which can be adapted to haul almost
everything imaginable.
 
Many are really rolling businesses which park anywhere business is good. For example, this
one is the "1000 won store". (1000 won is about $.80 US.) Others are vegetable markets, fish
markets, restaurants, etc. Of course, these trucks also handle delivering and transporting all
manner of things all over the country.
 
They are all diesels and, in the "normal" size have 14" front tires and dual 12" tires on the
rear. There is also a smaller and a larger version of the truck as well as 4 door versions.
 
 
Here is another typical vendor. This is a truck full o' ties. I wouldn't guess how long it takes to
arrange all these ties.