Korean Show Highlights Eco-Friendly Travel: Lessons for Climate Action

A South Korean entertainment program is sparking conversation about sustainable travel, subtly weaving climate awareness into its popular format. February 13th, Anote Plus’s “Sneakyly High Season 2” (뜬뜬 풍향고2) had garnered nearly 30 million views, according to reports, showcasing a travelogue format that diverges from typical youth-focused backpacking adventures.

The show follows veteran entertainers Yoo Jae-suk, Ji Seok-jin and Yang Se-chan, alongside actor Lee Sung-min, on an “analog Eastern European journey.” The program’s appeal lies in its improvisational nature – a journey undertaken with “no plan, no reservations, no schedule” – as the group navigates Austria and Hungary. However, a seemingly casual scene involving train travel has drawn attention for its implicit environmental message.

While traveling from Vienna, Austria, to Budapest, Hungary, the program highlighted a message displayed on board the train: “Train passengers are climate protectors.” The hosts playfully misinterpreted a figure representing the greenhouse gas emissions saved by choosing rail travel over other modes of transportation as a price, demonstrating a lighthearted engagement with the concept of carbon footprints.

The train operator, Austrian Federal Railways (ÖBB), has set ambitious sustainability goals, aiming for carbon neutrality in its mobility sector by 2035 and across the entire group by 2050. ÖBB reports reducing approximately 4.2 million tons of greenhouse gases annually, powered by electricity generated from renewable sources like hydropower, wind, and solar energy. The company is also transitioning to Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) renewable diesel in non-electrified sections of its network to reduce reliance on fossil fuels.

Rail transport inherently possesses a lower emissions intensity compared to other forms of transportation. ÖBB data indicates that per passenger-kilometer, carbon dioxide emissions are approximately 5.71 grams, more than ten times lower than those produced by passenger cars. The environmental benefit of choosing rail over air or automobile travel is amplified over distances like the roughly 240-kilometer journey between Vienna and Budapest. The show’s depiction, though brief, encapsulates the European approach to decarbonizing transport through behavioral change.

Austria has been sourcing 100% of the electricity for its passenger trains from renewable sources since 2018, further enhancing the environmental advantages of rail travel. As electricity grids become increasingly decarbonized, the relative benefits of rail transport are structurally reinforced.

South Korea’s state-run railway operator, Korail, is also pursuing sustainability initiatives, though at a slower pace compared to its European counterparts. Korail is expanding solar power installations at railway facilities and depots, introducing more energy-efficient trainsets, and piloting hydrogen train technology for non-electrified lines. However, a key difference lies in the source of electricity powering the Korean rail network.

Unlike Austria, Korail relies on the national electricity grid, supplied by Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO). As of 2025, renewable energy accounts for just over 10% of South Korea’s power generation mix. This makes it structurally challenging to declare 100% renewable energy sourcing for rail operations, a feat achievable in Austria due to its cleaner energy infrastructure. While discussions around a complete transition away from fossil fuels, including nuclear power, are ongoing, achieving this in the short term remains a significant hurdle.

Alternative approaches are available, such as power purchase agreements (PPAs) between corporations and renewable energy developers, or the purchase of Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) to offset electricity consumption. However, the large-scale and consistent power demands of the railway sector necessitate a secure and long-term supply of renewable energy for a meaningful transition.

The appeal of “Sneakyly High Season 2” lies in its spontaneity. Yet, the seemingly unplanned train journey subtly underscores the direction of European transport policy. Choosing alternative modes of transport – a shift away from the congestion of highways and airports during peak travel periods – represents a concrete climate action. The show’s success suggests a growing public appetite for narratives that integrate sustainability into everyday life, even within the realm of entertainment.