A thank-you letter posted by the stationmaster of Apgujeong Station on Seoul Subway Line 3 has drawn attention online after the station thanked a nearby hotel and department store for opening their restrooms during renovation work at the station. The letter also thanked the cleaning staff who kept the facilities tidy despite a heavier workload from the surge in visitors. Photos of the letter spread on social media, drawing a wave of responses from users.
Seoul Metro said on the 22nd that the letter, written in the stationmaster's name, had recently gained traction online. A user on Threads posted photos of the letter the previous day, writing: "Sheets of A4 paper were posted all along the way at Apgujeong Station, so I checked out of curiosity — I never expected such a touching message." The letter, dated the 16th, was titled "A Note of Thanks."
Hotel and Department Store Opened Restrooms During Two-Week Closure
According to the letter, Apgujeong Station closed its restrooms for about two weeks while carrying out improvement work. To ease the inconvenience for passengers, the nearby Andaz hotel and Hyundai Department Store opened their restrooms to the public. The station said the cooperation of the two businesses allowed the work to be completed without major disruption.
"Even though the sudden increase in unfamiliar visitors must have been a burden, you always welcomed them kindly, and for that I am deeply grateful to everyone at the hotel and the department store," the stationmaster wrote. "The active cooperation and open-mindedness you showed during our discussions were a great source of strength to us."
The stationmaster went on to thank the two businesses again and said the station would not forget the consideration they had shown as neighbors.
Cleaning Staff Also Thanked for Quiet Efforts
The stationmaster also offered separate thanks to the cleaning workers who maintained the restrooms. Although their workload rose as visitor numbers climbed during the construction period, their work in keeping the facilities clean helped reduce the inconvenience for the public.
"Your workload must have grown considerably with far more visitors than usual, yet thanks to your consistent care in maintaining cleanliness, both staff and citizens were able to use the facilities without difficulty," the stationmaster wrote. "I know well that the sweat and effort of all of you, working quietly in places that are not easily noticed, were a great pillar of support throughout the construction period. I am sincerely grateful."
After the photos were shared, online users pointed not only to the cooperation of the hotel and the department store but also to the fact that the stationmaster had singled out the efforts of frontline workers.
"It couldn't have been an easy decision for the department store and the hotel either — that's impressive," one user wrote. Another called it "a good example of a local community working together to provide convenience for citizens." Other comments included, "This is what it means to repay a debt with words," and "A storm of emotion first thing in the morning."