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Getting Around Korea

Subway Β· Bus Β· Taxi Β· T-money β€” the complete practical guide to Korean public transport.

πŸ’³ T-moneyπŸš‡ Subway🚌 BusπŸš• Taxi Β· Kakao TπŸš„ KTX
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T-money Card (ν‹°λ¨Έλ‹ˆ μΉ΄λ“œ)

Essential

Where to buy?

Available at the counter of most convenience stores (GS25, CU, 7-Eleven) for about β‚©2,500. Also sold at some subway station service centers.

How to top up

Cash top-up at any convenience store counter (β‚©1,000 increments minimum). Also via ATMs at subway stations. Mobile T-money available through Naver Pay / Kakao Pay.

Where can I use it?

Subway, city buses, some taxis, convenience stores and vending machines nationwide. Transfer discounts are applied automatically within 30 minutes.

Check your balance

The remaining balance is displayed when you tap the card reader. You can also ask at any convenience store counter.

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Subway (μ§€ν•˜μ² )

Recommended apps

Naver Map (넀이버 지도) or Kakao Map β€” both support English. They calculate transfer routes, travel time, and last train info automatically.

Fares

Base fare approx. β‚©1,400 with T-money. +β‚©100 per 5 km after the first 10 km. Transfers within 30 minutes are free (T-money auto-discount).

Operating hours

First train around 05:30, last train around midnight (varies by line and station). Operates the same on weekends and public holidays. Check last train times via Naver Map.

Key Seoul lines

Line 1 (blue) Β· Line 2 (green, circular) Β· Line 3 (orange) Β· Line 4 (sky blue) Β· Line 9 (gold/express). AREX Airport Railroad: Incheon Airport ↔ Seoul Station (direct ~43 min, β‚©9,500).

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Bus (λ²„μŠ€)

Bus colors (Seoul)

Blue (trunk routes) β€” city-wide / Green (branch routes) β€” local / Red (wide-area) β€” suburban / Yellow (circular) β€” city centre loop.

How to board

Board from the front door and tap your T-money card. Tap again at the rear door when getting off (required for transfer discount). Cash accepted but no change given.

Track arrivals

Check real-time bus locations and ETA in Naver Map or Kakao Map. Arrival times are also shown on digital displays at bus stops.

Stop button

Press the "ν•˜μ°¨" (stop) button 1–2 stops before your destination. If you don't press it, the bus may not stop.

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Taxi (νƒμ‹œ)

Recommended: Kakao T

Kakao T app (카카였T)

Foreigners can register with just a Korean phone number. Enter your origin and destination in the app β€” no Korean needed. Estimated fare shown in advance.

Fares

Base fare approx. β‚©4,800 (regular taxi in Seoul). Late night surcharge (00:00–04:00): +20%. Card and cash both accepted.

Types of taxis

Regular (orange/white) β€” standard fare / Deluxe (black) β€” premium, ~2Γ— fare / Kakao Black β€” app-only premium / Large β€” suitable for 4+ passengers.

Hailing on the street

Raise your hand at a taxi showing a "빈차" (vacant) light. Show your destination on a map or address on your phone β€” Naver Map route screen works perfectly.

Useful apps

Kakao T (카카였T) β€” Korea's most popular / UT (μš°ν‹°) β€” Uber partnership / TADA (타닀) β€” available in select areas.

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KTX & Intercity Train

How to book

Book via the Korail (μ½”λ ˆμΌ) or SRT app using your ARC or passport. Same-day tickets can be bought at station windows (watch out for sell-outs on weekends).

Key routes

KTX: Seoul ↔ Busan (~2h 10m), Seoul ↔ Gwangju (~1h 35m). SRT: Suseo ↔ Busan / Mokpo branch.

Foreigner discount

Korail Pass β€” foreigner-only 1/3/5-day passes available on the Korea Tourism Organization website or Korail's official site.

πŸ—£οΈ Korean Phrases for Transport

이 μ£Όμ†Œλ‘œ κ°€μ£Όμ„Έμš”.

I ju-so-ro ga-ju-se-yo.

Please take me to this address.

λ―Έν„°κΈ° μΌœμ£Όμ„Έμš”.

Mi-teo-gi kyeo-ju-se-yo.

Please turn on the meter.

μ—¬κΈ°μ„œ μ„Έμ›Œμ£Όμ„Έμš”.

Yeo-gi-seo se-wo-ju-se-yo.

Please stop here.

μΉ΄λ“œλ‘œ κ²°μ œν• κ²Œμš”.

Ka-deu-ro gyeol-je-hal-ge-yo.

I'll pay by card.

영수증 μ£Όμ„Έμš”.

Yeong-su-jeung ju-se-yo.

Please give me a receipt.

μ§€ν•˜μ²  λͺ‡ ν˜Έμ„ μ΄μ—μš”?

Ji-ha-cheol myeot ho-seon-i-e-yo?

Which subway line is it?

이 λ²„μŠ€κ°€ ___에 κ°€μš”?

I beo-seu-ga ___-e ga-yo?

Does this bus go to ___?

λ‹€μŒ 역이 μ–΄λ””μ˜ˆμš”?

Da-eum yeok-i eo-di-ye-yo?

What is the next station?

ν™˜μŠΉν•˜λ €λ©΄ μ–΄λ””μ„œ λ‚΄λ €μ•Ό ν•΄μš”?

Hwan-seung-ha-ryeo-myeon eo-di-seo nae-ryeo-ya hae-yo?

Where do I get off to transfer?

막차가 λͺ‡ μ‹œμ˜ˆμš”?

Mak-cha-ga myeot si-ye-yo?

What time is the last train/bus?

ν‹°λ¨Έλ‹ˆ μΉ΄λ“œ μ–΄λ””μ„œ μ‚΄ 수 μžˆμ–΄μš”?

Ti-meo-ni ka-deu eo-di-seo sal su i-sseo-yo?

Where can I buy a T-money card?

μΆ©μ „ν•΄μ£Όμ„Έμš”.

Chung-jeon-hae-ju-se-yo.

Please top it up. (T-money)

μΆœκ΅¬κ°€ μ–΄λ””μ˜ˆμš”?

Chul-gu-ga eo-di-ye-yo?

Where is the exit?

이 λ°©ν–₯이 λ§žμ•„μš”?

I bang-hyang-i ma-ja-yo?

Is this the right direction?

πŸ“± Essential Apps Summary

Naver Map (넀이버 지도)

Best for transit routing β€” English support.

Kakao T (카카였T)

Taxi hailing β€” no Korean needed.

Kakao Map (카카였맡)

Maps & directions β€” real-time bus tracking.

Korail / SRT

KTX / high-speed rail booking.

πŸ’‘ Tip: In a taxi, show the driver your Naver Map route screen to communicate your destination without language barriers. Subway/bus transfer discounts require a T-money tap within 30 minutes.
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Book Transport Passes with Klook

Recommended

Airport bus, T-money card, KTX passes and more β€” all bookable in advance with instant confirmation.

Browse Transport on Klook β†’

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