Korea’s major cities, including Seoul, have a highly developed public transportation system, but it can feel complicated to foreigners encountering it for the first time. Here, we summarize how to efficiently use subways, buses, and taxis along with essential tips.
1. 💳 Essential Item: Transportation Card (T-money & Cashbee)
The key to using public transportation in Korea is “cashless payments.” You must prepare a transportation card.
| Category | Details | Tips |
|---|---|---|
| Types of Cards | The most common cards are T-money and Cashbee. Their functions are nearly identical. | Foreigners-only cards (e.g., KOREA TOUR CARD) offer discounts at tourist attractions. |
| Purchase and Recharge | You can purchase and recharge your card at convenience stores (CU, GS25, etc.), subway station ticket booths, and recharge machines within subway stations. | Be aware that often you can only recharge with cash at convenience stores. |
| Most Convenient Method | Using a mobile transportation card app (e.g., Samsung Pay) with transportation card functionality means you don’t need the physical card. |
2. 🚇 Subway Tips: Fast and Accurate
Korea’s subway is the most precise and extensive mode of transport. Once you understand the transfer system, using it becomes very convenient.
| Essential Information | Details | Tips |
|---|---|---|
| Operating Hours | Generally operates from around 5:30 AM to 12:30 AM. | Check the last train times on the Naver Maps app, as they vary by route and day. |
| Transfers | You can transfer between subway and bus without additional charges (up to 4 times, within 30 minutes). | Be sure to tag your card on the terminal when you get off to apply the transfer discount. (If you don’t tag, the base fare will be charged on your next ride!) |
| Subway App | By searching for your departure and arrival stations on apps like Naver Maps or KakaoMap, you can get real-time arrival information, transfer routes, and travel times accurately. |
3. 🚌 Bus Tips: Navigating the City
Buses connect areas not covered by subways, allowing you to experience the city closely.
| Essential Information | Details | Tips |
|---|---|---|
| Bus Types | Blue (Main Line): Major arterial roads, long-distance routes / Green (Branch Line): Short-distance, connects to subway stations / Red (Express): Connects the outskirts to the city center (comfortable long-distance ride) | Red express buses are more expensive. |
| Boarding/Alighting | Tag your transportation card when boarding, and you must also tag your card when alighting. | When your stop is approaching, press the bell to inform the driver. If you don’t press the bell, the bus may not stop at your stop. |
| Bus Lanes | Major roads have specially marked bus lanes in blue, allowing relatively quick movement even during rush hours. |
4. 🚕 Taxi Tips: Fast and Convenient
Taxis are the most convenient when you have a lot of luggage or are traveling late at night, and you can now easily call them via apps.
| Essential Information | Details | Tips |
|---|---|---|
| Regular Taxi vs. Deluxe/Large | Regular taxis (orange/white/gray) are the cheapest and most common. Deluxe/Large taxis (black) are more expensive but comfortable and good for transporting luggage. | Be aware of the late-night surcharge (10 PM to 4 AM). |
| Taxi-Hailing App | Using the Kakao T app is the most common way to hail a taxi. You can specify your location and check the estimated arrival time, which is very convenient. | If you register your foreign-issued credit card in the app beforehand, payment will be automatically processed without any additional steps once you reach your destination. |
By familiarizing yourself with this guide, you can become a transportation expert in Korea! Utilize map apps and transportation cards to conveniently travel through all corners of the country.
출처: 하이코리아 · 출입국·외국인정책본부
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