Buy a card or ticket
A physical Tmoney card stores money for supported transport fares. Buy one at a participating sales point, add a balance and tap it at the station gates. Keep cash available for top-ups where overseas-card payment is not supported. A bank card accepted for buying a ticket is not necessarily accepted as a direct tap at the gate.
WOWPASS is a prepaid shopping card with a separate Tmoney transit balance. The short-term Climate Card is a flat-fee pass for specified routes in and around Seoul. These products have different funding and coverage rules, so check the one you choose before travelling. Phone-based transit cards also have device and setup requirements.
If you need only one subway ride, a single-journey card costs ₩100 more than the ordinary transit-card fare and requires a refundable ₩500 deposit. After leaving the paid area, return it to a deposit-refund machine. Single-journey cards do not provide the usual bus-transfer benefit.
Read the route before entering
Use a route planner such as Naver Map, a Korean navigation app with an English interface, to identify the line, direction, interchange and exit. The line number or name tells you which service to take; the train’s displayed destination tells you where that particular train is going. Some trains finish before the end of the line, and some lines have branches or express services.
Seoul’s wider rail network includes numbered subway lines and named services. AREX is the Airport Railroad to Incheon Airport. The Shinbundang Line serves areas south of central Seoul and applies additional section charges. Do not assume that every service shown on the same map has an identical fare or pass policy.
Tap in and tap out
Tap your card at the entrance gate and wait for it to open. Use the same card at the exit. On buses, tap when boarding and again when leaving. If a gate will not open or you miss a tap, ask station staff for help rather than following another passenger through.
The ordinary adult Seoul subway fare starts at ₩1,550 for the first 10 km on a transit card. Additional distance charges apply, and certain services have separate surcharges. Missing an exit tap can cause an additional charge on your next journey and break the transfer discount.
Eligible transfers usually allow 30 minutes between tapping out and boarding the next service, extended to 60 minutes between 21:00 and 07:00. Up to four transfers can form one eligible journey. Reboarding the same bus route does not qualify in the same way. The combined journey can still incur distance charges or a difference in base fares.
Follow the correct exit number
Large stations can have entrances on opposite sides of a wide road. Choose the exit nearest your destination before leaving the platform, then follow its numbered signs through the station. An exit number helps you find the start of your final walk; it does not replace the destination’s street address.
If you need a lift, check the accessible exit specifically. Seoul Metro reports a step-free route from street to platform at each of its stations, but not every entrance or interchange is step-free. The wider rail network includes other operators, so confirm the facilities along your entire route. Staff can help arrange a boarding ramp where needed.
Make room for other passengers
Allow people to leave the train before boarding. Keep bags clear of doors and aisles, and hold a backpack where it will not hit nearby passengers. Speak quietly and use headphones for audio.
Priority seating is intended for passengers who need it, including people with disabilities, older passengers and pregnant passengers. A person’s need for a seat may not be visible. Keep the pink pregnancy seats available in accordance with the operator’s request.
Some lines have carriages with less cooling. Check the carriage signs or operator information if you prefer one, because the arrangement differs by line.
Arrange luggage storage and the return journey
T-Locker is the station luggage-locker service; its app provides location, availability and payment information. T-Luggage provides staffed storage at selected stations. Check access hours before leaving a bag, particularly if you will return late or leave for an early flight.
Public Wi-Fi may be available, but do not assume a continuous connection in every tunnel. Save your destination and important journey details before travelling.
Last-train times vary by station, day and direction. Check that your train reaches the required station and that any connecting service is still running. If the subway has finished, compare an N-numbered night bus with a taxi, taking the night surcharge into account.
