Seoul Searching: Navigating Seoul Public Transportation

When I first arrived in Seoul, I found public transportation to be intimidating. There are so many people, so many buses, and so many subway trains, yet because there is so much public transportation, traveling anywhere in Seoul is relatively easy. Now that I’ve been living in Seoul for around three months, here are my best tips for navigating Seoul!

Tmoney vs Climate Card

• Tmoney - These cards can be purchased at most convenience stores, the airport, or Artbox (at the checkout counter). Most Tmoney cards cost ₩4,000, and the Artbox Tmoney cards cost ₩10,000. Unless specified otherwise, these cards don’t come preloaded, and you will have to load them before using public transportation. You can load them at most convenience stores and in subway stations at reloading kiosks. You may also use the mobile Tmoney card if you have a domestic credit or debit card. The Tmoney card can be used for public transportation (e.g., bus, subway) around Korea.
• Climate Card - These cards can be purchased at the Seoul Metro Information Centers and convenience stores around Seoul subway lines and can be charged at reloading kiosks in Seoul subway stations. The card itself costs ₩3,000 and can be charged monthly depending on the transportation you want to include on the card. There are 1, 3, 5, 7, and 30-day passes which cost from ₩5,000 for 1 day to ₩62,000 for 30 days with subway and bus included, which may be worth it if you plan to take Seoul public transportation often. The card functions similarly to the Tmoney card but allows for unlimited rides during the pass timeframe. This card can be used only for Seoul public transportation; you can’t use this card for transportation starting in Seoul and ending outside of Seoul.

Essential Transportation Apps

• KakaoMap
• NAVER Maps (my preferred map)
• Kakao T or Uber

How to Use The Bus

I would recommend using either KakaoMap or NAVER Maps to find which bus you need to take to get to your destination. Both maps will tell you how full a bus is ranging from good to usual to busy. Buses are usually “busy” during rush hours which is around 7:00 to 9:00 A.M. and 5:00-8:00 P.M. Once your bus arrives, tap your T-Money or Climate Card on the card reader at the front of the bus and find an available seat or standing space. Before your stop, indicate to the driver that you wish to stop by hitting one of the stop buttons placed around the bus. Tap the same card on the card reader next to the middle exit door. This allows for the system to register how far you’ve traveled and add an additional ₩100 fee per 5km traveled over 10km. If you don’t tap and transfer to another bus or the subway, you’ll have to pay the traditional fee instead of the waived transfer fee. 

NOTE: The yellow seats at the front of the bus are priority seats for disabled, elderly, or pregnant people or people with young children. Most people who don’t need the seats leave them empty. You may sit in these seats, but be aware that you will be expected to move if someone else needs it. 

How to Take The Subway

I would again recommend using either KakaoMap or NAVER Maps when taking the subway. NAVER Maps shows which subway station entrance to enter, which subway to take to get you to your location, and which subway station exit to leave. Once you enter the station, you’ll have the option to go one of two ways depending on which way you want to travel. Make sure you enter through the correct turnstile using your Tmoney or Climate Card and then go downstairs to wait for the subway. Ensure that the train you want will take you to your destination. Each train has a final destination where they will only go so far, so make sure your train will take you far enough. This is usually only an issue for destinations outside of Seoul. NAVER Maps will let you know which subway train to take. Once inside, find an empty seat or space and patiently wait for your stop. Both buses and subways are usually quiet, but subways are more so, so be courteous to others around you. If you need to make a transfer, follow the marked arrows with the transfer line number. They will be clearly marked for you.

NOTE: The pink seats are only for pregnant women, and the red seats at the end of the cars are for disabled or elderly people or people with young children only. Please do not sit in these seats unless you are disabled, elderly, pregnant, or have young children.

If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to ask others around you or the subway staff at dedicated subway information centers. Most people are very polite and helpful! Hopefully, this helps you feel more at ease about your upcoming Korea trip, and I hope you have so much fun Seoul searching!