How to Ride the Subway
A beginner's guide to Seoul's subway — how to plan a route, pay, transfer between lines, and ride politely.
How the subway works
Seoul's subway has 9 main lines plus several extra lines, all colour-coded and numbered. Every station has an English name and a station number, such as 2-15, which makes navigation easy. Trains run from about 05:30 until around midnight, and they are clean, safe, and on time.
Finding your route
Use a map app such as Naver Map or KakaoMap to plan your route — they work better in Korea than Google Maps for public transport. Enter your destination and the app will show you the line, the transfer station, and the travel time. Station signs are in English, and announcements are made in Korean and English.
Buying a ticket or using T-money
The easiest way to pay is with a T-money card, which you tap at the gate. If you do not have one, you can buy a single-journey ticket from a machine at the station — select your destination station on the screen, pay, and keep the ticket until you exit. A deposit of 500 won is included in the ticket price and refunded when you return the card at your destination.
Transfers
Transferring between lines is free within the station — follow the transfer signs, which can involve a long walk in big stations. Allow extra time for transfers at busy stations such as Seoul Station or Gangnam Station. If you are carrying luggage, look for the lifts rather than the escalators, which can be crowded.
Subway etiquette
The seats at the ends of each carriage are reserved for elderly, pregnant, and disabled passengers — do not sit there unless you qualify. Keep your voice down and avoid phone calls on the train. Eating is not forbidden but is considered rude, so save your snacks for outside the station.