There are bulls in the subways of Korea. You've seen them. Half human, half bull, they are known as "subway bulls." Though "bull" refers specifically to males in the animal kingdom, subway bulls can be either male or female. They resemble the rest of the human race in all ways but two: 1) Body Position while awaiting the subway's arrival and 2) General Subway Behavior.

      First, let us look at Body Positioning. The subway bull stands on the subway platform, perfectly perpendicular to the subway line, approximately 100 cm behind the long yellow warning strip, feet planted squarely in the middle of the yellow arrows behind which he or she ought to be standing. In that position the bull remains virtually motionless. Eyes transfixed on something (anything) straight ahead, the subway bull appears to be in a trance. There is but one stimulus that will arouse the subway bull from this state: the sound of the bell announcing the subway train's approach.

      The ringing subway bell marks the onset of stage one in General Subway Behavior, the Anticipation Stage. Upon hearing the bell ring, the bull releases his or her eyes from their fixed position, looks down toward the platform, and begins to shuffle his or her feet. Alternating left and right, the bull drags his or her feet slowly and heavily backward, as if trying to raise dust from the subway platform. Simultaneously, he or she begins to breathe heavily, as evidenced by rising and falling chest and shoulders. An air of impatient anticipation surrounds the bull during this stage, and thus the designation, Anticipation Stage.

      Stage two, precipitated by the bull's auditory or visual observation of the approaching train, is the "transition phase." Behaviors exhibited during this stage, though subtle, are remarkably consistent across the subway bull population. Almost without exception, a tightening of the grip on his or her packages occurs and the hypnotic-like gaze returns. Distinct from that observed under Body Positioning, the blank stare of Transition Stage, more intense and unwavering, has been labeled "catatonic." By the time the subway train has come to a complete stop before our wily creature, a transition, or transformation, has occurred. Single-mindedness has overtaken the subway bull. His or her entire being has become focused on one thing: getting inside that subway car.

      Thus begins the third and final stage, "The Charge." Because this phase of behavior is easily observable and unmistakably "bullish," it has become the defining essence of the subway bull we know today. Stage three is also considered the most dangerous phase because, once set in motion, it can be neither reversed nor slowed. (And it is this knowledge that, perhaps more than anything else about the subway bull, grips with fear the heart of the innocent subway passenger.) As the subway doors open, the bull is, by all outward indication, unaware of his or her surroundings. In a near-maddened state, he or she charges. Into the midst of unsuspecting passengers forges the subway bull, with power untamable and reckless abandon, "like a bull in a China shop" as it were. Utter chaos rules during this phase, with bodies colliding, bags flying, make-up smearing, fingernails snapping and the mania settling only when the subway bull has realized his or her goal: arrival in the subway car.
Though we can never know for certain what goes on inside the subway bull’s mind, systematic observation  has provided a behavioral database upon which to begin making educated guesses. One hypothesis is that the subway bull has no mind at all. Another theory is that the subway bull does have a mind, but one which is void of logic. This second theory falls from the following line of thinking. If, in fact, the bull’s goal is to get into the subway car as soon as possible, the practice of charging into a concentrated flow of outgoing passengers, would seem to be counterproductive. While hindering the progress of exiting passengers, the subway bull is also stifling his or her own forward progress. Given that “The Charge” yields absolutely no benefit to any party concerned, it seems that the subway bull is operating in the absence of logic. 

One might be inclined to suppose, then, that the subway bull operates predominantly on instinct. In this case, the instinctual “charging” mechanism, acquired in the bull’s natural habitat, has been transposed to the subway setting. Adaptation has occurred, something for which the subway bull ought not to be looked down upon nor punished. 

On the other hand, the civilized society at large must also adapt. Using logic, members of the civilized society can decide whether or not to accept the bullish behavior of certain urban dwellers such as the subway bull. 

While we ought not to ostracize the subway bull for its base, adaptive behaviors, neither do we need to embrace undisciplined, potentially dangerous behavior. In succumbing to the brutish  ways of the subway bull, are we in effect, guilty of giving in to “herd mentality?” In small, isolated doses, giving in is not detrimental to our well-being. But in the long run, are we giving consent to a minority of aggressive bulls who are daily  trampling what we consider to be basic human values? Are we compromising our dignity as human beings by accepting the aggression of these creatures? And ultimately, are we ushering in a less civilized manner of living? 
 
  

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