Why the Seoul Metro is Your Best Friend
The Seoul Metro is world-class — clean, punctual, air-conditioned, and impossibly cheap. With 23 lines and over 700 stations, it reaches virtually every corner of the city. A single ride costs ₩1,400. For context, that's about $1 USD. Taxis start at ₩4,800 for the same distance.
Essential Lines for Tourists
- Line 2 (Green — Circle) — The most important line. Covers Hongdae, Sinchon, City Hall, Euljiro, Gangnam, COEX. Circular route means no wrong direction.
- Line 4 (Blue) — Seoul Station, Myeongdong, Dongdaemun. Tourist central.
- Line 3 (Orange) — Anguk (Gyeongbokgung Palace), Insadong, Express Bus Terminal.
- Line 6 (Brown) — Itaewon, Mapo, World Cup Stadium.
- Line 9 (Gold) — Express service: Gimpo Airport ↔ Gangnam in 30 min.
- AREX (Airport Railroad) — Incheon Airport ↔ Seoul Station. Direct express: 43 min / ₩11,000. All-stop: 66 min / ₩9,500.
💡 Download Naver Maps before you land. It has real-time subway, bus, and walking directions in English. Better than Google Maps for Korea.
How to Pay
- T-money card (best) — Rechargeable smart card. Buy at any convenience store. Cheapest fares + free transfers.
- Single journey ticket — Buy at ticket machines. ₩100 more per ride + ₩500 deposit returned at exit.
- Contactless credit card — Tap-to-pay works on most turnstiles (Visa/Mastercard). No transfer discounts.
Fares
- Up to 10km: ₩1,400 (T-money) / ₩1,500 (single ticket)
- 10–40km: +₩100 per additional 5km
- 40km+: +₩100 per additional 10km
- Free transfers (subway↔bus) within 30 min with T-money
Best Navigation Apps
- Naver Maps — #1 recommendation. Real-time, English, multi-modal
- Kakao Maps — Great for restaurants and walking routes
- Subway Korea — Simple offline subway map for quick reference
- Google Maps — Works but less detailed than Naver in Korea
Operating Hours
Most lines run approximately 05:30 AM – 00:30 AM (varies by line and station). Last trains from busy stations like Hongdae or Gangnam can be around midnight. Check Naver Maps for the exact last train from your location.
Late-night options: Night buses (Owl Bus, N-prefix numbers) run 12AM–5AM on major routes. Or take a Kakao T taxi — safe and affordable.
Subway Etiquette (Important)
- Queue at marked positions on the platform
- Let passengers exit before boarding
- Priority seats (pink) for elderly, pregnant, and disabled — always yield
- No eating, no loud phone calls on the train
- Escalators: stand on the right, walk on the left
- Volume down — Koreans are extremely quiet on public transit
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Get Connected for Navigation
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