Public Transportation In Korea
When you think of public transportation in Korea, two systems stand out — buses and subways.
Take Seoul as an example: home to nearly 10 million people, it’s a city where bus stops seem to appear on every corner, and color-coded buses rush down dedicated lanes. Subway stations named after their neighborhoods are scattered across the city, connecting every corner of the capital through an extensive underground network.
In Korea, using public transportation means having access to virtually anywhere in the country. Although navigating Seoul’s busy routes might seem overwhelming at first, buses and subways are deeply woven into the rhythm of everyday Korean life. To truly understand how people live here, public transportation offers a raw, unfiltered glimpse into real Korean daily life — the heartbeat of the city itself.
Map Applications in Korea
Before hopping on a bus or subway, you’ll first need to decide on your starting point and destination. Even locals don’t travel completely unplanned. The two most widely used map applications in Korea are KakaoMap and Naver Map.
While Google Maps technically works, it’s not widely used in Korea, and its directions are often inaccurate or outdated. For real-time and precise information — such as nearby bus stops, current subway locations, and exact routes — KakaoMap or Naver Map are the best options.
Both apps offer English settings, and Naver Map even supports Japanese and Chinese. If you’re familiar with map-based navigation apps, you’ll have no trouble adapting to either one.
Let’s try an example: traveling from Gangnam Station to Gyeongbokgung Station using KakaoMap.
There are several ways to get there, but the fastest route involves using only the subway. According to the app, you’ll take Line 2, transfer to Line 3, and arrive at Gyeongbokgung Station in the shortest time possible. Real-time train arrival times are also displayed, which is especially helpful for those in a hurry.
Zooming in on the map reveals subway trains moving in real-time along their lines. Transfers between subway lines are common when traveling across Seoul, and they all take place within the same station complex. Simply follow the clearly marked transfer signs, and you’ll reach your connecting platform with ease.
Fares
Subway fares are standardized, while bus fares can vary slightly depending on the type of bus and the passenger’s age. For adults, most rides cost just over one US dollar.
In Korea, cashless payment is the norm, so it’s best to purchase a T-money card upon arrival. These cards, priced between ₩3,000 and ₩6,000, are available at all convenience stores. After purchasing one, simply load credit onto the card — you can check your remaining balance at any convenience store or by tapping your card on the bus or subway reader, where your balance appears on the small screen. If you’re leaving the country, you can get a refund (minus a small service fee) at convenience stores.
Perhaps the most impressive part of Korea’s public transportation system is its transfer policy. You can transfer up to four times for free within 30 minutes (or 60 minutes between 9 p.m. and 7 a.m.).
If the distance between transfers is long, a small fee (₩100–₩200) may be added, but in most cases, transfers are completely free.
One important note — even locals sometimes forget this: you can’t transfer twice in a row on the same bus number.