Station master's thank-you letter to neighbors goes viral

A public thank-you letter posted by the station master of Apgujeong Station on Seoul Metro Line 3 has belatedly gone viral, after a nearby hotel and department store opened their restrooms to commuters during renovation work at the station.

On Monday, photos of the letter spread across social media and online communities, with users sharing them alongside comments such as, "I noticed A4 sheets of paper posted everywhere at Apgujeong Station and got curious — I never expected such a heartwarming message."

The photos show printed notices affixed to walls throughout the station. Titled "A Message of Gratitude," the notices contain a letter of thanks that the station master of Apgujeong Station, operated by Seoul Metro, sent to a neighboring hotel and department store on Oct. 16.

The station master wrote that restrooms at the station had been closed for two weeks of renovation work, raising concerns about major inconvenience for passengers. "Thanks to the generous cooperation of Hotel A and Department Store B, we were able to complete the work safely and without significant disruption throughout the construction period," the letter read.

"We know it must have been a burden to suddenly welcome an influx of unfamiliar visitors, yet your staff always greeted them with kindness," the station master wrote, and went on to say that "the proactive cooperation and open-mindedness you showed during our discussions gave us strong encouragement."

The station master particularly singled out cleaning staff for their efforts. "I would like to extend my deepest gratitude to the cleaning personnel who kept the restrooms spotless and comfortable from early morning until late at night, every single day," the letter read. "Despite a workload far heavier than usual due to the surge in visitors, your unwavering dedication to cleanliness allowed both our staff and the public to use the facilities without any inconvenience."

"We are well aware that your sweat and hard work, carried out quietly in places that often go unnoticed, were a pillar of support throughout the entire construction period," the station master wrote. "We are sincerely grateful."

The station master also pledged to honor the goodwill shown. "We will not forget the warmth you showed as neighbors, and we too will continue to work alongside the local community to make Apgujeong Station an even safer and more convenient place," the letter concluded.

Online commenters responded warmly to the letter. "Given that hotels must maintain cleanliness every hour of every day, this was absolutely not an easy decision," one user wrote. Others said the gesture would boost the image of both the hotel and the department store, and praised the businesses for quietly doing a good deed without seeking attention.