SRT, file photo ()
You can get almost anywhere on the Korean Peninsula with minimal effort and for a very reasonable price via public or private transportation. Whether by train, taxi, bus, plane or your private owned vehicle, there is an adventure out there with your name on it. Here are the basics for getting started.
South Korea’s mass transit system is a nearly seamless combination of planes, trains, buses and taxis that can get you within a short walk of nearly any destination, while not having to worry about parking or what might happen to your POV. Seoul is the central hub for domestic and international travel.
Travel by train In Korea, you can travel to most towns by train. Railway trains are a great alternative to air travel. It offers many more options for destinations and traveling times than airlines.
There are two companies that operate railway trains in South Korea, KORAIL and SRT. KORAIL is a national railway company that runs general and high speed train, and SRT only offers a high speed train service. Please take a look at the box to learn how to see the schedule and get a ticket.
Korail - Type of train General Trains: • ITX-Saemaeul • Saemaeul • Mugunghwa-ho High-speed train: KTX
- Reservation for a ticket (Korail website) ❶ Download KorailTalk app on your phone or check the website. (both provide the same service) *For the app, please change the language setting to English as seen in the picture. ❶ ❷ Search the departure and arrival stations and check the schedule.
❸ Click “select” on the class and check the timetable and fare.
❹ Purchase a ticket with your credit card (If it doesn’t work, your bank probably blocks international usage or you might be using a VPN) *The service for foreigners doesn’t give you a choice of seat but just gives a random seat. Purchase a ticket earlier at the station if you’d like to have an option to select your seat.
KorailTalk Korea’s trains are comfortable and offer a great way to mingle with the locals. Contact your local TMO for tickets.
If you want to try traveling by train with an unlimited train ride pass (Korail Pass), check here for more details! SRT - Type of train High-speed train - Reservation for a ticket Unfortunately, you can’t reserve a ticket without a credit card from a Korean bank. You can make a reservation at the train station, through an agency, or ask a Korean for help. You can check the schedule and route of SRT on their website.
Travel by subway Several major cities operate subway systems and almost all signs are in Korean and English. Taking subway would be a very convenient way to take a trip within the metropolitan cities.
Areas: Seoul Capital Area (Seoul, Incheon, Gyeonggi-do), Busan, Daegu, Daejoen, Gwangju Hours: Approximately 5:30 a.m. - midnight Fare: 1,250 won (T-money card) 1,350 won (Ticket) for adults *Seoul Metropolitan government will likely increase 300 won from the fare of subway and bus at the end of April 2023. Ticket: Use a T-Money card or buy a single journey ticket at the ticket vending machines
Download “Subway Korea” on your phone! ❷ The Metro system in Seoul can be very complicated for foreigners. Many metro lines have several different train routes, so it’s easily to get lost. I recommend you trying this useful app to find out the directions, train routes, fares, travel times, schedules and more. When you select the departure and arrival station, you can check all train schedules.
Special metro lines in Seoul - No. 1 (Dark Blue) Line: Line 1 is the longest line and features a lot of different routes. Trains on this line run from Soyosan, just north of Dongducheon (Camp Casey), to either Incheon or Seodongtan. Be aware of that the line separates at Guro Station. Those going to – or coming from – areas near either Osan Air Base or Camp Humphreys will need to be on the Seodongtan portion of the line. There are some trains that do not start or finish at the “terminal stations” listed on maps, so check the destination listed on the front and sides of the train or through the app.
- No. 2 (Green) Line: This is the busiest metro line in ROK with a lot of the best places you shouldn’t miss visiting in Seoul. There are Jamsil, Gangnam, Hongdae, Dongdaemun and Namdaemun (at City Hall Station) stations and more in Line 2. These are known as most popular areas for sightseeing, shopping, dining-out and night life in South Korea. Try to check the map before boarding; going the wrong direction full circuit will make for a very long ride to your destination.
- Shinbundang (Red) Line: Shinbundang Line is essentially a shortcut from Gangnam Station down to the Bundang/Seongnam area. It runs from Gangnam Station in Seoul to Jeongja Station in Bundang, with Yangjae, Yangjae Citizen’s Forest, Cheonggyesan and Pangyo stops in between. The fare is 2-3 times more expensive than other lines because it was built through private investment.
Don’t forget to try the AREX for a quick train ride from Incheon Airport to Seoul Station. The fare is comparable to the cost of riding the bus, and much cheaper than taking a taxi. Incheon to Seoul should be just about 9,500 won (child 7,500 won), which is just around $7.98 and takes around 45 minutes on the express train. From Gimpo Airport to Seoul Station, the all-stop ride is a short 22 minutes and costs about 1,550 won, or around $1.30.
To see maps of metro lines or learn how to get a ticket, check the website! -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Travel by taxi There are two main types of taxis in Korea: the “ilban” taxi (regular) and the “mobeom” (deluxe) taxi. The regular taxi starts at 4,800 won (about $3.80), while the deluxe starts at 7,000 won ($5.50). Rates start from the basic fare and go up either by the distance traveled or the time elapsed. Fares of the regular taxis increase by about 20 percent between the hours of midnight and 4 a.m.
Deluxe taxis are normally dark in color and have a yellow sign on top. There is no late-night fare differential. Many of the deluxe taxis have stands at major hotels, subway and bus stations.
You can catch cabs at a taxi stand or hail them on the street. To hail a taxi, make sure the light on the car’s dashboard is red. A taxi with a green light or no light means that it’s occupied or reserved. During rush hour or in bad weather, expect a long wait. Or you can simply call a taxi to a place where you are at through the mobile app, Kakao T. This app is foreigner friendly.
Ensure that the driver is using the meter when you start your trip, unless you have (willingly) agreed upon a set price prior to starting your ride.
Many of the drivers speak some English, or at least enough to get you to and from well-known locations. However, it would be wise to look for taxis with a “translation services available” sticker on the side.
If you are near a base, or if the driver works near a base, you should not have much problem getting to your destination. If not, you can get “taxi cards” from the USO. A bilingual staff member will write your destination in Hangul (Korean) for the driver. Make sure you get one for the way back as well!
SOFA personnel will find Exchange taxis available on base. (Some bases have a limited number of off-base taxis authorized to come on the bases.) These on-base taxis are very convenient and make life easier in and around bases. Though the rates for these taxis are higher, unlike the regular taxis, they accept dollars and the drivers can answer some questions you may have about the area.
* Helpful tips for taking a taxi -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Travel by car Driving around Korea has become much easier with GPS systems available in both English and Korean. At the same time, improvements to the highway system have made driving less of a nightmare than it once was.
If you plan on spending time on the highways, consider shelling out a little money for the Hi-Pass system to pay your tolls. Hi-Pass allows you to pay the tolls without having to stop and count out the money each time.
Hi-Pass requires an “On Board Unit” (OBU) and a Hi-Pass Card. The OBU can be purchased for less than the equivalent of $20 online and at highway business offices, shopping malls, most highway rest stops or on Camp Humphreys (Bldg. 449).
The Hi-Pass Card can be purchased and charged at many of the same locations. There is a 5,000 won deposit required when the card is purchased, and the card can be charged and recharged in amounts from 5,000 to 500,000 won. -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Travel by bus Bus travel in Korea is reliable and the schedules are more convenient than the trains. Some expressways have bus-only lanes for peak travel times such as weekends, rush hour and major holidays. The bus companies also run extra buses on such peak days. One bus fills up and pulls out, and another immediately pulls in for more passengers.
All major cities and most towns in Korea have a main bus terminal. Transportation to other cities is possible via express buses (Gosok bus) which can be alternative to railway trains. In Seoul, the main hub is the Gang-Nam Express Bus Terminal.
Some buses run between cities on secondary roads. These dependable inter-city buses make plenty of stops and are an interesting way to see Korea. There are also buses that run from Incheon International Airport to key cities such as Gunsan.
Each city has its own bus system. Ask people who might know or check with your local Morale, Welfare and Recreation Center. They should have information on bus routes, points of interest and other matters.
In Seoul, there are four different color-coded bus systems (bus numbers indicate specific routes):
Blue buses serve major roads between downtown Seoul, its outskirts and sub-centers. Routes are usually direct and efficient, with few detours from main roads.
Green buses run between blue bus routes and subway lines, usually using less direct routes. Their terminal stops will be in adjacent zones.
Another type of green buses is community buses that run in small residential areas.
Red buses serve wide areas on express routes and connect the outlying suburbs with Seoul’s sub-centers.
Yellow buses move through the downtown areas and shopping districts of the metropolitan area. They usually follow circular routes in limited zones.
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Travel by plane Roundtrip domestic airfares between major cities should cost less than the equivalent of $200 depending on when you travel and which airline you use. Travel agencies can often save you money on airfares, while tour packages may reduce lodging costs.
Some airports, especially those in smaller cities such as Gunsan, offer few flights and limited destinations. To get to Seoul you may have to fly to Jeju Island first. You may find that other means of travel better suit your needs.
Airports are far from downtown areas which, along with security checks, can increase travel time significantly. Travel plans should include the time it takes to get to, from and through an airport.
There are plenty of places to visit in the Land of the Morning Calm. Why not make getting to them part of the adventure? Try them all!
Having a T-money card would be the first step to master the mass transit system in ROK. It will make your life here much easier and more convenient, and you’ll be able to save money by using it. T-money card is for a bus, taxi, metro and convenience stores in most of metropolitan cities such as Seoul, Busan and Daegu. It offers a 100 won discount for every ride as well as a huge discount when you transfer to another bus or metro line within 30 minutes (Limited to 4 times a day)
T-money Card: A must-have item in Korea - Where to buy T-money cards are sold at most convenience stores and ticket vending machines at metro stations. Price: From 2,500 won ($1.8) – more (The price goes up depending on the design and type)
- How to use ❶ Add 1,000 won to 90,000 won on the card at convenience stores or metro stations. ❷ Scan the card at a bus and metro when you enter. Make sure to scan it again before you exit to get a transfer discount.
- More about T-money card, please check out websites General Information Area of Use
Let’s practice together! Let’s say you’re a newcomer who has never used public transportation in Korea. Let’s make a trip plan together step by step.
❶ Download Naver Map or Kakao Map These apps will guide you what transportation to use and where to take them. You can also see the arrival time of buses, subways and trains. They are mostly very accurate. ❷ Search the departure and arrival location - For subways: Try to check the arrival time of the subway on the app, and make sure you’re taking the right train in the right direction. - For trains: Try to make a reservation with KorailTalk
❸ Leave the base and start your journey! 1) Take a taxi from your location directly to the station and buy a T-money card there. (Exchange taxi: 1544-9080) 2) Get a T-money card at a convenience store near your location and take a bus to get to the station!
