Riding the subway in Korea: a practical guide (2026)

Everything a first-time visitor (or a Korean heading to another city) needs to ride the metro with confidence. Fares are checked against Seoul city and operator sources, and for Seoul lines you can tap any station to see live train arrivals.

Seoul subway lines & stations

• Line 1 102 stations
• Line 2 51 stations
• Line 3 44 stations
• Line 4 51 stations
• Line 5 56 stations
• Line 6 39 stations
• Line 7 53 stations
• Line 8 24 stations
• Line 9 38 stations
• AREX (Airport Railroad) 14 stations
• Gyeongui–Jungang Line 57 stations
• Suin–Bundang Line 63 stations
• Shinbundang Line 16 stations
• Gyeongchun Line 25 stations
• Ui–Sinseol Line 13 stations
• Sillim Line 11 stations
• GTX-A 9 stations
• Seohae Line 21 stations
• Gyeonggang Line 12 stations

Fares: from ₩1,550 with a transit card

Since 28 June 2025 the base fare on the Seoul metropolitan subway is ₩1,550 with a transit card (teens ₩900, children ₩550). The base fare covers 10 km; after that, ₩100 is added every 5 km up to 50 km and every 8 km beyond. No further rise had been announced as of October 2026.

• Single-journey tickets were reported at ₩1,650 plus a ₩500 deposit, which you get back from the deposit refund machine after your ride.
• Incheon, Gyeonggi and Korail commuter lines use the same fare system.

Transit cards and the Climate Card

A prepaid card such as T-money, sold at convenience stores and stations, lets you simply tap in and out on subways and buses. Since 17 March 2026, 440 new ticket machines at 273 stations on Lines 1–8 accept overseas Visa and Mastercard cards. Tapping a foreign bank card directly at the gate is not possible yet; Seoul plans to introduce it in stages.

• The 30-day Climate Card ended in late September 2026. Since 1 September it has been replaced by the refund-based 'Climate Pass' for residents, built on the national K-Pass.
• Short-term Climate Card passes for visitors are still sold: 1 day ₩5,000, 2 days ₩8,000, 3 days ₩10,000, 5 days ₩15,000, 7 days ₩20,000 (7-day youth pass ₩13,000). They cover the Seoul subway and Seoul-licensed buses from the first train on day one to the last train on the final day.
• Not covered: the Shinbundang Line, GTX, intercity and airport buses, and Seoul Bike. On AREX, the pass only works when exiting at Incheon Airport T1 or T2.
• Where to buy: new ticket machines at Line 1–8 stations and nearby convenience stores. Refunds are the loaded amount minus what you used and a ₩500 fee.

Transfers

Board your next bus or subway within 30 minutes of tapping out (60 minutes between 9 pm and 7 am) and you get the transfer discount, for up to five transfers per trip. You pay the higher base fare of the modes you use. Always tap out when you exit; from March 2026, reports say skipping it adds a base fare to your next ride.

AREX (Airport Railroad)

AREX links Incheon International Airport with Seoul Station. All-stop trains work like any subway line with a transit card and transfer discounts. The non-stop Express train needs its own ticket and takes about 43 minutes from Seoul Station to Terminal 1; check the AREX website for the current Express fare. Four more Express trains a day were added from 23 October 2026.

• At Gimpo Airport station you can change to Lines 5 and 9, AREX, the Gimpo Goldline and the Seohae Line.

First and last trains

Seoul trains generally start around 5:30 am. On weekdays the last trains run from around midnight until roughly 1 am (arrival at the terminus), depending on line and direction, and a little earlier on holidays. Last-train times vary by station, so check the station board or the Seoul Metro timetable. Our live arrival box also flags a train as the last one.

Subway etiquette

Each car has priority seats at both ends for older passengers, people with disabilities and pregnant women, and the pink seats in the middle are reserved for pregnant women. Let people get off before you board, and don't walk or run on escalators. Keep phone calls quiet and avoid strong-smelling food.

Accessibility and lost property

Most stations have lifts, wheelchair lifts and accessible toilets, and station staff will help on request. Lift locations are shown on station maps and in map apps. If you lose something, call the Seoul Metro customer center (1577-1234). Items from Lines 1–8 are kept at lost-and-found centers at City Hall, Chungmuro, Wangsimni and Taereung stations (weekdays 9 am–6 pm).

• Lost items can also be delivered to a station locker (since June 2025) or your door (since July 2026), for a fee.

Subways in other cities

Busan (Lines 1–4, the Busan–Gimhae Light Rail and the Donghae Line), Daegu (Lines 1–3), Daejeon (Line 1) and Gwangju (Line 1) also have metros. Fares differ by city, but nationally compatible cards such as T-money work almost everywhere. See the city guides below.

Subways in other cities

• Riding the Busan MetroBusan Metro Lines 1–4, the Busan–Gimhae Light Rail and Donghae Line,…
• Riding the Daegu MetroDaegu Metro Lines 1 and 2 plus the Line 3 monorail, fares of ₩1,500 b…
• Riding the Daejeon MetroDaejeon Metro Line 1, getting to Daejeon Station and Yuseong Hot Spri…
• Riding the Gwangju MetroGwangju Metro Line 1, reaching Gwangju-Songjeong (KTX) and Gwangju Ai…

FAQ

See also

• Public bikes & Seoul Bike live (Mobility Note)
• Getting around Korea (KTX & taxis)