Follow the safety guidance
Stand still on a moving escalator, face forward and hold the handrail. Keep your feet inside the marked step edges and leave space to step off safely at the end.
You may see people standing on the right while others walk on the left. That practice does not change the safety advice to avoid walking or running. Follow signs and staff instructions, including any request to use both sides for standing.
Korea's 2026–2030 lift-safety plan includes escalator safety as a public-policy concern. Whether someone is likely to be fined is not a useful basis for deciding how to ride.
Keep hands, feet and loose items clear
Hold the handrail and avoid leaning against the side panel. Keep shoelaces, long hems, bag straps and other loose items away from the sides and the gap at the end.
Step on and off carefully, and move clear of the landing before stopping to check your phone or directions. Do not turn around or move against the direction of travel.
Accompany children closely and help them stand securely. Use a lift if the escalator is unsuitable for a member of your group.
Choose a lift for a pushchair or difficult luggage
Take a lift with a pushchair or trolley. A large suitcase can also make an escalator difficult if it prevents you from holding the rail or controlling your balance.
For bicycles, check the transport operator's specific rules for bringing and moving them through a station. Do not assume that advice for ordinary luggage also establishes permission to use a lift with a bicycle.
If you cannot find the lift, ask station staff for the accessible route. Avoid carrying a loaded pushchair down an escalator.
Check the complete station route
A station may have escalators on some stairways and lifts at different exits. An escalator is not a substitute for step-free access, and a lift's presence does not establish that every route through the station is accessible.
Check the entrance, transfer and destination routes you need, along with any current lift outage notices. Allow extra time if the accessible exit is farther from your destination.
If a lift is out of service, ask staff about an alternative route before committing to stairs or an escalator you cannot use safely.
