The 150-km. trip from Seoul, the capital of South Korea, to Daejeon can be made by car or train. When Pope Francis visited the latter city for Asian World Youth Day, he chose to travel by train, one of the reasons being that he wanted to feel what it was like to be in a vehicle moving at such a high speed.
Today, the seat he occupied on the train bears a sign that reads: the Pope sat here and it has become one of the most sought-after train seats in the South Korean public transportation system. Each time the train leaves a terminal, someone is seated in the place occupied by the Pope.
A percentage of the price travelers pay for sitting in that particular spot has been set aside by the South Korean transit system for the Daejeon diocese. The first check, amounting to 11,000 euros, was recently sent to the Bishop, who says it will be used to help young mothers in difficulty.