Running late or lost: what to message

Why one message helps on a one-to-one schedule

I'm Jisun, the owner of London Brow in Seoul. I work alone, with one client at a time, so there is no colleague to start with someone else while I wait. When you are late without a word, I do not know whether to wait, to message you, or to prepare differently. When you are late with a message, I know, and I can plan the time that is left.

Nobody needs to apologise at length. Trains stop between stations, a taxi takes a wrong turn, a lift is slow. A delay is ordinary. Silence is what makes it hard. What a late arrival means for the session that day is something we talk about in the chat at the time, because it depends on the day.

Before you leave: three things to have ready

First, open WhatsApp and pin our chat to the top, or star the last message with the visit details. When you are standing at a busy crossing with a slow connection, you will not want to scroll. Second, take a screenshot of the visit details I sent you, so you still have them if mobile data drops. Third, check your route in a map app with live times and note when you need to leave to arrive a little early.

Here is a quick check for your route. Look at the map app's arrival time, then look at how many transfers it shows. For each transfer, add a little margin in your head, especially on your first ride on the Seoul subway, where walking between lines can take longer than the map suggests. If the result feels tight, leave earlier rather than plan to message.

If you are running late

Write as soon as you know, not when you arrive. Two pieces of information are enough: where you are now and your expected arrival time. 'I am on the train, two stops away. I will arrive about 15 minutes late.' Consultations are translation-assisted, so give the time as a number rather than 'a bit late' or 'soon', which translate vaguely.

If the delay grows, send a second short message with the new time. Do not wait for my reply before setting off again; I may be in the middle of something and reply a few minutes later. Just keep moving and keep the chat open.

If you are lost near the station

The studio is a 30-second walk from Seolleung Station, so getting lost usually happens in the last few steps, not on the way. The meeting point and the way into the building are confirmed by message before your visit. If you cannot match them to what you see, stop walking and take a photo. A photo of a shop sign, a crossing or the station entrance nearest you is often clearer than any description, and it needs no translation.

Send the photo with one line: 'I am here. Which way?' I will reply with directions from what I can see in your picture. Keep a little battery for this; a phone that dies a few steps from the door is the most frustrating way to be lost.

Save these two messages now

Type these into your phone's notes before your visit, so you only have to paste them. Late: 'I am running late. I am at [place]. I will arrive at about [time].' Lost: 'I am near the station but cannot find the way. Photo attached.' Each one, sent early, turns a stressful moment into a two-line exchange. Ask in the chat beforehand if anything about the visit details is unclear.

Common questions