Metro, Buses & T-money

South Korea's public transport is among the best in the world — punctual, affordable, clean, and in Seoul so comprehensive that you hardly ever need a taxi.

Seoul Metro

Seoul's subway network is gigantic: 23 lines, over 700 stations — one of the largest in the world. All stations have announcements and signage in Korean, English, Chinese, and Japanese. Air-conditioned, with Wi-Fi in the trains and platform doors at almost all stations.

• Single ride: ₩1,400 (~1 €) with T-money, ₩1,500 with single-use ticket (+ ₩500 deposit)
• Operating hours: approx. 5:30 AM – 12:00 AM
• Frequency: Every 2–5 minutes during peak hours

T-money — Korea's IC Card

The T-money card is your most important everyday tool: a rechargeable card for metro, bus, taxi, convenience stores, and vending machines. Buy it at the airport or any convenience store for ₩2,500 (1.75 €).

• Discount: ₩100 discount per ride compared to single-use tickets
• Transfer discount: Free transfer between metro and bus within 30 minutes
• Recharge: At machines in metro stations or in convenience stores (CU, GS25, 7-Eleven)
• Also for: Taxi (hold card to reader), convenience stores, vending machines

Buses

Seoul's bus network perfectly complements the metro — especially for routes not covered by the metro. Colors indicate the type:

• Blue: Main lines across the city
• Green: Feeders to metro stations
• Red: Express buses to the suburbs
• Yellow: Inner-city short distances

Taxi

Taxis are surprisingly affordable in Korea: Base fare ₩4,800 (~3.40 €), then ₩100 per 131 meters. A typical 20-minute ride in Seoul costs ₩8,000–15,000 (5.60–10.50 €). Night surcharge (midnight to 4 AM) 20%. Apps: Kakao Taxi (Korea's Uber) — works via GPS, no language skills needed.

Navigation Apps

Attention: Google Maps works only to a limited extent in South Korea (no route planning due to security laws). Instead, use: Naver Map or Kakao Map — both have English versions and are significantly more accurate than Google Maps in Korea.