Seoul, the vibrant capital of South Korea, has an efficient subway system that is both affordable and - compared to other cities of its size - easy to use. Navigating the Seoul subway may seem daunting at first, but fear not! In this comprehensive guide, you'll find all the information you need to safely explore the city using the subway system.

1. Ticket Prices

The Seoul subway fare system is based on distance, so the first 10 km start from 1,250₩. For longer trips a small additional fee will be applied when leaving the station. Children, seniors, and individuals with disabilities enjoy discounted rates.

2. Operating Hours

Seoul Subways usually start operating at 5am and the last train leaves around midnight or until 1am. After that there are usually only night busses and taxis available. Try to avoid the rush hours during 6:30 - 9am and 4:30 - 7pm, as it can get really really busy and crowded during that time.

3. Transportation Cards

You can buy single ride tickets at the vending machines in every Subway station. Another option is the MPass, which is like a 1 to 7 Day unlimited pass. But for this ticket to be worth it, you have to take the Subway at least 7 times per Day.

The most convenient and therefore most common option is a transportation card. You buy a card at a convenience store or a subway station, top it up with some money and can use it until there is no money left. There are two Card Types I usually use and can recommend:

T-Money Card

As an originally government founded company this is the most common card in South Korea, so you can basically find them everywhere with cute designs, for example by Kakao or Line Friends or the most famous Kpop Groups. You can top up money (only by using cash) at convenience stores and at the machines in every Subway Station and then use it in the whole country for transportation and in some convenience stores and attractions.

Namane Card

This is my absolute recommendation! You can not just freely personalize the design, you can also use it as a normal payment method, top it up with cash or your foreign credit card (with a small transaction fee) and check the remaining amount easily in the app. It's much more convenient and especially for tourists the best option. I would recommend to get it right at the Incheon Airport CU Convenience Store.

4. Subway Maps

Some people prefer to read the Seoul Subway Map simply as it is.. That's absolutely not an option for me :D Luckily there are many Apps you can use to find the best way to get from A to B:

○ GoogleMaps (works to some extent)

○ Seoul Subway App

○ KakaoMaps

○ NaverMaps

○ ...

5. NaverMaps

The last App of this list is the one I use and the one I will explain more in Detail here. There is no special reason, why I would recommend NaverMaps in comparison to KakaoMaps, it's like Apple vs. Samsung.. You always like what you first got used to :D

1. Search for the station or place you want to go to

2. Change the departing time if you want to go later

3. Click on your preferred route once you decided

4. Subway lines have a number & colour code

5. "Twds" & "Bound" give you the direction of the subway you have to take

6. Check the amount of stops you have to take & where you have to transfer or leave

7. If youre in a hurry, check the door-numbers for fast transer or fast exit

6. Orientation at the Station

Find the correct Subway Line (Number & Colour) when entering the station and choose the right direction. Unfortunately sometimes the station you're looking for or the bound is not mentioned, in that case I recommend to check the map to see where you have to go.

Before entering the platform you have to go through a gate. Tap your ticket or transportation card on the card reader on your right side and walk through it on the left side of the reader you used.

The device will tell you the fee for this trip in the first line (in the picture it is 0₩ because I transferred) and the remaining amount of money on the card on the bottom line (in the picture it's 32,450₩).

Double-check the direction right before entering the train: The "twds" in NaverMaps describes the next station. You can confirm this by checking the little arrow pointing at this station right above the train door. If you went to the wrong platform, no worries, there will be no charge if you have to go through the gate again to get to the other side.

If you have to transfer subways you usually don't have to go through a gate again. If you have to go through another gate, there will be no extra fee, it's just a different company (but that makes no difference for you). After leaving the first train you check your environment to find the transfer to the line number and colour you're looking for.

There will be signs with arrows or lines on the wall or the floor to show you the correct way. They always have the same color and number! Check the direction of your next train like mentioned above.

When you arrived at the station, you can immediately see signs showing the way to the exit in yellow. The exits are numbered, so you can leave the station right where you want to go. For this, simply check the map at the platform or the route in NaverMaps for the best number.

7. Station Facilities

Almost all Subway Stations in Seoul and other korean cities have:

○ restrooms

○ ATMs

○ card loading machines

○ lockers or storages

○ convenience stores

○ vending machines

○ food stands

○ ...

8. Subway Etiquette

Here the most important things you should keep in mind, when taking the korean Subway:

○ Stand right, walk left on escalators 

○ Wait in line before entering the train

○ Don't sit on priority seats

○ Don't talk too loud & silent your phone

○ No drinks or food in the subway

The Seoul subway is a fantastic way to explore the vibrant city and its many attractions. By familiarizing yourself with ticket prices, operation hours, transportation cards like Tmoney and Namane, reading the subway map, using Naver Maps for navigation, finding exits, and mastering line transfers, you'll navigate the Seoul subway system like a local.

Enjoy your subway adventures and have a wonderful time exploring Seoul!

Seoul

@nextstopkorea

My chosen home and favorite city of all - South Korea’s Capital city is known for its unique mix of modern skyscrapers and traditional Hanok Houses, the best food and endless things to do at every time of year.

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