Korea Public Transportation Guide for Foreigners (2026): Subway, Bus, T-money & More
Korea has one of the world's most efficient public transportation systems. In Seoul and other major cities, you can get almost anywhere by subway, bus, or taxi. This guide gives foreigners the practical knowledge to navigate Korean transit with confidence.
Table of Contents
- 1. Getting a Transit Card (T-money)
- 2. Using the Subway
- 3. Using City Buses
- 4. Taking a Taxi
- 5. Intercity and Express Buses
- 6. KTX High-Speed Rail
- 7. Money-Saving Tips
- 8. Transit by City
- 9. Useful Apps
- 10. Frequently Asked Questions
- 11. Consultation
1. Getting a Transit Card (T-money) {#section-1}
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Card types | T-money, Cashbee, Mybi — all rechargeable transit cards |
| Where to buy | Subway station vending machines; convenience stores (GS25, CU, 7-Eleven, emart24) |
| Initial card fee | ~KRW 2,500–5,000 |
| How to top up | Convenience stores, subway station recharge machines, ATMs, or a smartphone app (NFC-capable) |
| Balance check | Tap at a card reader or check via app |
| Refund | Available at convenience stores or banks |
| Mobile T-money | Available on Android phones with NFC via a dedicated app |
KakaoPay, Samsung Pay, and Naver Pay also work on most subway gates and bus card readers.
2. Using the Subway {#section-2}
| Step | Action |
|---|---|
| 1 | Find your route and line (Naver Maps, KakaoMap, or Google Maps) |
| 2 | Tap your transit card at the gate to enter |
| 3 | Find the correct platform and direction (check the route map on screen doors) |
| 4 | Board the train and exit at your destination |
| 5 | Tap your card at the exit gate when leaving |
| 6 | To transfer, don't exit the fare zone — tap your card at the connecting line without triggering an extra charge |
| Item | Seoul standard |
|---|---|
| Base fare | KRW 1,500 (within 10 km) |
| Distance surcharge | +KRW 100 per additional 5 km beyond 10 km |
| Transfer discount | Subway↔bus transfer within 30 min: base fare waived |
| Operating hours | ~5:30 AM – midnight (varies by line) |
| Late night | No night surcharge; service simply ends near midnight |
Seoul's subway network spans 23 lines including Lines 1–9, Jungang Line, Bundang Line, Sinbundang Line, and the AREX airport line.
3. Using City Buses {#section-3}
| Color | Type | Coverage |
|---|---|---|
| Blue | Trunk bus (간선) | Long routes connecting major areas |
| Green | Branch bus (지선) | Short routes connecting neighborhoods to subway stations |
| Red | Metropolitan bus (광역) | Seoul ↔ Gyeonggi-do |
| Yellow | Circular bus (순환) | Loops around key downtown spots |
| Tan/Brown | Village bus (마을) | Small-scale local neighborhood routes |
| Step | Action |
|---|---|
| Board | Front door only; tap card on the reader |
| Alight | Rear door; tap card before exiting (required for transfer discount) |
| Stop info | LED display and bilingual (Korean/English) audio announcements |
| Request stop | Press the button to signal your stop |
Always tap your card at the rear door when getting off — failing to tap means you lose the transfer discount on your next leg.
4. Taking a Taxi {#section-4}
| Type | Appearance | Base Fare |
|---|---|---|
| Regular taxi | Orange or white | KRW 4,800 (Seoul) |
| Premium taxi | Black | KRW 7,000 (Seoul) |
| Large taxi | Minivan | KRW 7,000+ |
| KakaoT | App-hailed | Metered + dispatch fee |
| UT (Uber) | App-hailed | Metered |
| Note | Details |
|---|---|
| Late-night surcharge | +20% midnight–4 AM |
| App taxis | KakaoT and UT offer English-language interfaces |
| Showing destination | Easiest method: show your destination on Naver Maps or Google Maps |
| Payment | Cash or card accepted in all taxis |
KakaoT is the most foreigner-friendly option — enter your destination in English and the driver's app shows it in Korean.
5. Intercity and Express Buses {#section-5}
| Type | Details |
|---|---|
| Express bus (고속버스) | Seoul ↔ major cities. Premium, standard, and deluxe classes |
| Intercity bus (시외버스) | Connects smaller cities with more stops |
| Booking | Kobus (kobus.co.kr), EasyTicket app, terminal counters |
| Sample fare | Seoul–Busan (4.5 hr): ~KRW 25,000–35,000 |
| Seoul terminals | Gangnam (Central City), Seoul Express Bus Terminal, Dong Seoul Terminal |
6. KTX High-Speed Rail {#section-6}
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Operator | KORAIL (Korea Railroad Corporation) |
| Key routes | Gyeongbu Line (Seoul–Busan), Honam Line (Seoul–Gwangju/Mokpo), Gangneung Line (Seoul–Gangneung) |
| Sample fares | Seoul–Busan from KRW 59,800; Seoul–Gwangju from KRW 46,800 |
| Journey times | Seoul–Busan ~2h 30min; Seoul–Gwangju ~1h 30min |
| Booking | KORAIL website/app, major bank ATMs, station counters |
| Foreigner pass | Korea Rail Pass (3-day / 5-day / 7-day unlimited for foreigners) |
The Korea Rail Pass (purchased abroad or online) offers significant savings for foreigners making multiple long-distance trips.
7. Money-Saving Tips {#section-7}
| Tip | Details |
|---|---|
| Seoul monthly pass | KRW 62,000/month for unlimited subway and bus rides in Seoul |
| Use transfer discounts | 30-min subway↔bus transfers waive the base fare on the connecting leg |
| Youth/child discounts | 50% off for teens and children when using a transit card |
| Climate Card (기후동행카드) | Seoul's eco transit pass: ~KRW 60,000+/month for unlimited subway, bus, and Ttareungyi bike |
| AREX general train | Incheon Airport to Seoul Station for KRW 9,500 (~43 min) |
| KTX advance booking | Up to 30–40% off if booked 1 month early |
8. Transit by City {#section-8}
| City | Subway | Bus | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seoul | 23 lines, ~350 stations | Metro, trunk, branch, village | Largest network in Korea |
| Busan | 4 lines + Gimhae Light Rail | City and village buses | Line 2 connects Haeundae and Centum City |
| Daegu | 3 lines | City buses | Subway base fare KRW 1,350 |
| Incheon | Lines 1–2 + AREX | City and village buses | Best airport access |
| Gwangju | 1 line | City buses | Bus-centric transit |
| Daejeon | 1 line | City buses | Near science/research districts |
9. Useful Apps {#section-9}
| App | Function | Languages |
|---|---|---|
| Naver Maps | Route guidance, real-time bus/subway info | Korean, English |
| KakaoMap | Route guidance + KakaoT taxi integration | Korean, English |
| Google Maps | Familiar UI; good public transit integration | Multilingual |
| KakaoT | Taxi and designated driver hailing | Korean, English |
| Korail App | KTX and train booking | Korean, English |
| Kobus | Express bus booking | Korean |
| 1330 Korea Tourism | Phone and app travel info in English, Chinese, Japanese | Multilingual |
10. Frequently Asked Questions {#section-10}
Q. Can I pay with a foreign credit card on the subway? A. Some newer gates accept contactless foreign cards, but a rechargeable T-money card is the most reliable option and is required to receive the transfer discount.
Q. Does the Seoul subway run all night? A. No — most lines stop around midnight. Late at night, use the N-bus (night bus) network or take a taxi.
Q. Are there English announcements on the subway? A. Yes. Seoul and most major city subway systems make announcements in Korean, English, Chinese, and Japanese — covering station names and transfer information.
Q. How do I get from Incheon Airport to Seoul city center? A. Cheapest: AREX general train to Seoul Station (~43 min, KRW 9,500). Faster option: AREX express (~43 min, KRW 11,000+). Airport limousine buses cost KRW 15,000–20,000; taxis run KRW 70,000–100,000.
Q. Does T-money work outside Seoul? A. Yes — T-money is accepted on public transit nationwide, and also at convenience stores, vending machines, and some taxis.
11. Consultation {#section-11}
For visa status, alien registration, or general life settlement questions in Korea, Vision Administrative Office provides expert support.
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