Getting around Korea — subway, buses, KTX and intercity buses

Korea has some of the best public transport in the world. Once you know three things — T-money, the map apps and how to book trains — you can get almost anywhere cheaply.

In the city: subway and buses

Pay with a T-money card. Buy one at a convenience store or station machine and top it up with cash. It works on subways and buses across the country.

• Tap on and tap off on buses too. If you don’t tap off, you lose the transfer discount.
• Transfers between subway and bus within a short window are free or cheap.
• A Seoul subway ride costs roughly ₩1,500–₩1,700 with T-money.
• Use Naver Map or KakaoMap for routes. See Naver Map or KakaoMap?

Buses by colour (Seoul): blue buses run on main roads across the city, green buses are local routes, and red buses run longer express routes to nearby cities.

Seoul’s Climate Card (기후동행카드)

If you live in Seoul and ride every day, the Climate Card gives you unlimited subway and bus rides for 30 days, for about ₩62,000, or a little more with Seoul’s public bikes (Ttareungi) included.

• It covers most Seoul subway lines and Seoul city buses, but not every line or every bus that leaves Seoul. Check before relying on it for a commute outside the city.
• Short-term versions for visitors are also available.

Between cities: KTX and other trains

The KTX high-speed train is the fastest way between big cities. Seoul to Busan takes a little over two hours on the fastest trains.

• Book in the official KORAIL app (now called Korail+, formerly Korail Talk) or on the KORAIL website. Both have English.
• SRT is a separate high-speed service leaving from Suseo in southern Seoul, with its own app.
• Book early for Fridays, Sundays and holidays, especially Chuseok and Lunar New Year, when trains sell out.
• Slower ITX and Mugunghwa trains are cheaper if you’re not in a hurry.

Korail Pass: a rail pass for foreign visitors that gives unlimited KORAIL train rides on chosen days. It’s mostly useful for a few days of fast travel around the country. Check current prices and rules on KORAIL’s site before buying.

Between cities: express buses

Express and intercity buses are often cheaper than the KTX and go to towns trains don’t reach.

• Big terminals in Seoul include Seoul Express Bus Terminal (Gangnam) and Dong Seoul Bus Terminal.
• Book with the official bus booking apps or at the terminal.
• Premium buses have wide, comfortable seats and are worth it for long trips.

Taxis

Use Kakao T to call a taxi, or hail one on the street. The base fare in Seoul starts around ₩4,800, and late-night fares cost more. Show the driver your address in Korean.

Sources

• Seoulstart – Booking trains and buses in Korea as a foreign resident
• Seoulstart – Cost of living in Korea (Climate Card)
• Seoul Tourism Organization – Seoul to Busan