Seoul’s Missing Trash Cans: A Local’s Guide to Surviving the 'Coffee Cup Struggle'
Introduction: The Latte that Became a Long-Term Commitment We’ve all been there. You’re strolling through the vibrant streets of Myeong-dong or Hongdae, enjoying a perfectly crafted iced Americano. You finish the drink, look around to toss the cup, and... nothing. No bins. Not for blocks. The "Coffee Cup Struggle" isn't just a "tourist problem"—it’s a daily reality for us locals, too. I’ve personally been rejected from boarding a Seoul bus because I was holding a takeout cup, only to realize there wasn't a single bin in sight of the bus station. I ended up walking 15 minutes back home just to throw it away. After traveling to over 40 countries, I’ve realized that Seoul is perhaps the only city where a latte feels like a long-term commitment. But there is a method to this madness. Seoul subway bins with liquid section The "Why": The 1995 Waste Fee System To understand the lack of bins, we have to look at 1995. This was the year Korea introduced th...