- Bus
- Subway
- Taxi
- Seoul Bus
- How to Use Seoul Bus
- Types of Seoul Bus
- Seoul Subway
Seoul branch bus (green) © Seoul Historiography Institute
#1. Seoul Bus
Comfortable public transportation for going around every neighborhoods of Seoul
The bus is a commonly used form of public transportation in Seoul as it can take you to every parts of the city. First-time visitors to Seoul may find the bus system rather complicated, because of the large amount of information they should learn in advance for a ride, such as the numerous routes, bus types, and how to use the public transportation card for hopping on and off a bus and transferring to other buses or the subway.
Passengers getting on and off the bus © Kim Yun-gyeong (Seoul Citizen Journalism Program)
The city has actually conducted a focus interview of international passengers’ experience of Seoul buses. It received feedback stating that Seoul buses are an attractive option for touring around the city, but the subway is preferred for the complicated bus routes, and that an image guide of how to use the bus would be helpful for international tourists.
This guide on how to use Seoul’s smart public transportation system and other important information of Seoul buses has been created for international tourists to enjoy comfortable buses in Seoul and quickly get around the city, while enjoying the view through the window! Forget your fear of riding buses, and let’s find out more!
HECHI
Guardian of Seoul that protects the city from misfortune
#2. How to Use Seoul Bus
Seoul Bus Guide 101
3 steps for passengers
-
Preparation
- Prepare your public transportation card.
- Check the bus information system (BIS).
-
Getting on
- Get on through the front door.
- Tap your public transportation card on the card reader.
-
Getting off
- Press the stop bell and tap your public transportation card on the card reader at the back door.
- Exit through the back door.
Public transportation cards © Song Su-ah (Seoul Citizen Journalism Program)
What to prepare before using the bus: ① Purchase a public transportation card
The public transportation card is essential for using not only the bus, but also the subway, taxi, and public bike. There are two types of public transportation cards: T-money and Cash-bee. They can be purchased at retail convenience stores, subway stations, or through their websites. Reload the card after purchase for use.
Reloading public transportation card
Devices for reloading public transportation cards can be found in subway stations. The service is available in different languages. Payment can be made in cash, debit/credit card, or by mobile bank transfer.
Tip from Hechi!
“Public transportation cards can come in typical card forms, but they are also available in forms of key chains or accessories. They may serve as good souvenirs of Seoul, so pick a nice design you like!”
- Where to purchase (Online):
- www.t-money.co.kr (T-money) / www.cashbee.co.kr (Cash-bee)
* Daily passes for international tourists: https://www.t-money.co.kr/ncs/pct/tmnyintd/ReadFrgnMpassIntd.dev
Remember
Single journey tickets purchased at subway stations can be used for subways only. They cannot be used for buses.
Don’t worry if you don’t have a credit or debit card with you! You can make mobile payment with your smart phone.
If you are a user of Samsung Pay or other public transportation apps, you can simply use your smartphone as a public transportation card, without having to bring around the real card with you. (Please note the service is not yet available for Apple Pay!)
How to use (Samsung Pay)
[Install Samsung Pay app] → [Register public transportation card] → [Add T-money or Cash-bee card] → [Select payment method (i.e. pre-payment, post-payment, phone bill payment) → [Register payment method (credit card)] → [Set mobile phone to NFC card mode]
Note!
Use of 2 or more public transportation apps may cause multiple payments for a single ride or error during transfer.
Recommended: Climate Card Short-term Pass
Viewing the bus information system on a smartphone
What to prepare before using the bus: ② View the bus information system (BIS)
After purchasing a public transportation card, check information on the bus that shall take you to your desired destination. Seoul runs a cutting-edge bus information system that provides information on the estimated time of arrival, time left for arrival, current bus location, and intervals between buses.
Bus information system installed at bus stops © Kim Taek-jung (Seoul Citizen Journalism Program)
Buses can be tracked through the bus information terminal installed on bus stops, as well as the Seoul TOPIS website and mobile app, and other database-sharing map apps (i.e. Naver Map, Kakao Map).
Screenshot of Naver Map app
Track your bus before your journey to minimize your waiting time at the bus stop. The live and accurate information will take the quality of your travel to another level.
Tip from Hechi!
“Kakao Map and Naver Map offers shortest route information, public transportation recommendation, and live bus tracking all at once.
If you do not wish to install an app, you can use the Seoul Public Transportation website!”
- Seoul Public Transportation website (incl. subway information) :
- https://bus.go.kr/
Passengers riding on a bus © Jeong Yu-ri (Seoul Citizen Journalism Program)
Getting off the bus
Buses in Korea are designed to enter through the front door and exit through the back. You will sometimes find people doing the opposite, but following the rule will make the passage of passengers more efficient in a space used by many people.
(Top-left) Front door for entry; (Top-right) Back door for exit © National Election Commission (Seoul Citizen Journalism Program)
As you enter the bus, tap your public transportation card on the card reader device installed at the right side of the driver’s seat. A beep sound will indicate your fare has been successfully paid. If you wish to pay the fare of multiple passengers with a single card, tell or use your fingers to show the driver the number of passengers. The driver will manually operate the device for payment of multiple passengers.
Stop bell
The bus will inform you its current location through a display or announcements. If it tells you it is about to get to your destination, press the stop bell and get ready to get off. Be reminded to press the bell before the arrival to your destination because pressing it after may cause confusion to the driver.
Card reader by the exit door © Kim Ha-yeon (Seoul Citizen Journalism Program)
Before you exit, tap your public transportation card on the card reader installed by the back door. Be reminded to tap your card as you enter and leave the bus for a transfer discount.
Tip from Hechi!
“What is a transfer discount?”
Transfers from subway to bus, bus to subway, and bus to bus are offered discounts up to four transfers a day. A transfer must be made within 30 minutes from the time the public transportation card has been scanned before the exit of the previous ride.
(Within 1 hour for transfers between 9 PM and 7 AM of the following day / Use of the same bus route (bus number) is not available for transfer discount)
#3. Types of Seoul Bus
A to Z of Types of Seoul Bus
Buses operated in Seoul are distinguished in colors. The trunk (blue) bus runs longer routes within Seoul, and the branch (green) bus facilitates the transfer to another bus or the subway within a region. The circulation (yellow) bus goes to and from central and sub-central districts, and the rapid (red) bus is an express bus that connect Seoul with nearby metropolitan areas.
Seoul late-night bus © Shim Jae-hyeok (Seoul Citizen Journalism Program)
Other buses include the town bus with short routes that go into residential areas where the subway or larger buses cannot approach, and the late-night (N) bus that operates from 12 AM to 4 AM (last time of departure). This comfortable bus service is available regardless of distance and time.
- Fare:
- SEOUL: HOME > Policy > Transportation > Modes of Transport
※ Additional charges may occur depending on travel distance.
Tip from Hechi!
“Children aged 6 or under accompanied by a guardian can travel for free!”
Subway interior © (Choi Byeong-yong) Seoul Citizen Journalism Program
#4. Seoul Subway
Comfortable subway of the busy city of Seoul
When speaking of public transportation of Seoul, the subway cannot be missed. The subway system of Seoul is quick and convenient, taking you to your destination and even functioning as something more than a mode of transportation. Subway stations are commercial spaces with all sorts of shops and shelters where citizens can relax (all subway stations in Seoul have public restrooms). They are also cultural spaces where performances and exhibitions are held. Let’s find out more about the subway of the hectic city of Seoul.
Subway station © Kim Jin-hong (Seoul Citizen Journalism Program)
Single journey ticket kiosk © Hong Ji-yeong (Seoul Citizen Journalism Program)
Single journey ticket for subway-only passengers
Seoul subway can be used with a single public transportation card, regardless of the operating company or line. Tourists who have not purchased a public transportation card or those who prefer the subway over buses are recommended to purchase single journey tickets available in subway stations. The kiosk features different language settings for international tourists.
Single journey kiosk screen
How to purchase a single journey ticket
Use a single journey ticket kiosk in a subway station (foreign language setting available)
Pay both the fare and deposit. KRW 500 deposit is refunded after you insert the card in the “deposit refund device” once you have arrived to your destination.
Single journey tickets cost an additional KRW 100 to fares of regular public transportation cards and can be used for the subway only.
Using the Seoul Subway app
Use the Seoul Subway app to know your route
The Seoul Metropolitan Government has been servicing the “Seoul Subway” app since April 2023 for the convenience of international tourists.
The app provides information on routes, location-based route recommendations, directions inside subway stations, and nearby tourist attractions.
In-app image (L-R English route information/location-based route recommendation/passenger density information)
The route recommendation service automatically recognizes your current location as the starting point. You do not have to know the nearest subway station of your destination, as the service will find it for you together with the route recommendation once you input your destination.
It also tells the passenger density of each train car, as well as the locations of exits and restrooms.
- How to use:
- Download from Google Play (Android) or App Store (iOS)
Seolleung Station intersection © Gangnam-gu Office (Seoul Citizen Journalism Program)
The public transportation system of Seoul connects tourist attractions, residential areas, central districts, and all parts of the city, while offering a real-time tracking service. The Seoul Metropolitan Government endeavors to offer Seoul citizens and international tourists the same level of convenience.
Passengers waiting for bus © Jo Si-seung (Seoul Citizen Journalism Program)
For those of you ready to start your journey in Seoul, take your public transportation card and smartphone and experience the smart city of Seoul! That is enough to enjoy the safe and convenient city of Seoul.
- Seoul Taxi
- How to Use Seoul Taxi
- Types of Seoul Taxi
- Improved Services of Seoul Taxi
A taxi in service during the day in Seoul
#1. Seoul Taxi Convenient rides to anywhere in Seoul
You may find yourself in unexpected situations while roaming around Seoul, seeing various attractions and enjoying the sights. Your feet may get too tired to walk any more or you may miss the last subway or bus to your accommodation.
In such situations, you can always rely on Seoul’s taxis that conveniently take you directly to your destination safely even at night! You can ride a taxi to places where buses or subways aren’t serviced. You can also easily hail a taxi anywhere using mobile apps.
Let’s take a look at how to hail and ride taxis in Seoul so that you can easily get to places whenever and whereve, even if you are not familiar with the city!
A person waving their hand to hail a taxi
#2. How to Use Seoul Taxi Hail and ride—it’s even easier with an app!
There are largely two ways to hail a taxi in Seoul. You can hail a taxi by waving your hand on the sidewalk or at a taxi stand. You can also use a mobile app to hail a taxi to come pick you up at your current location.
The first way was more common in the past, but more and more people are using taxi apps these days since you can pay in advance and taxis come pick you up at your desired location. Whichever method you choose, you can hail a taxi easily in Seoul with just a hand gesture on the sidewalk or just a few taps using an app. Now, let’s learn how to hail and ride taxis in Seoul.
Parked taxis © Seoul Metropolitan Government Portal
How to hail a taxi #1: Hail a taxi on the sidewalk or at a taxi stand
If you want to hail a taxi without using an app, go to the nearest road first. If you find a taxi stand, perhaps near a bus stop, you can hail a taxi waiting there. If there is no taxi at the taxi stand, stay there and wait a moment until a taxi comes. If you need to hurry, wave your hand at the edge of a sidewalk to hail a taxi in motion.
Generally, you can hail a taxi by waving your hand standing at the edge of a sidewalk. Just make sure to see which taxi is available in service.
Tip from Hechi!
“How do you tell if a taxi is vacant or booked?”
All taxis show their status on the windshield, distinguished by either “빈차” or “예약.” If you can’t read Korean, you can also distinguish the taxi status by color!
A taxi with “빈차” (bincha; “vacant”) sign in red
A taxi with “예약” (yeyak; “booked”) sign in green
- “빈차” (generally in red):
- It means the taxi is vacant, so wave your hand to hail a ride!
- “예약” (generally in green):
- It means the taxi is already booked, so you should wait for another taxi.
It’s not difficult to tell your destination to the taxi driver and to pay the taxi fare.
A passenger and a taxi driver inside the taxi
- Tell your destination to the taxi driver
- If you know the address of your destination, show it to the taxi driver or describe it in Korean. (Since many taxi drivers aren’t multilingual, it would be better to prepare the address of your destination in Korean in advance if possible.) If you don’t know the address, tell the taxi driver the nearest landmark or subway station to the destination.
- Pay the taxi fare
- Once you arrive at the destination, pay the taxi fare in cash or by credit card. If you have a public transportation card, you can use it to pay your taxi fare on top of subway and bus rides.
- Get off the taxi
- When you get off the taxi, say thank you or bye and close the door. Unlike some countries like Japan, the doors of Korean taxis are not automatic, so you have to open and close the car door yourself. Be careful not to slam the card door!
A person waiting for their taxi hailed using an app
How to hail a taxi #2: Hail a taxi using a taxi app
Let’s assume that you don’t want to or can’t go to the road due to bad weather or because you are too tired, or want to pay the taxi fare in advance using a credit card or bank account registered in the app since you don’t have a card or cash on you at the moment. In such cases, the easiest way to use a taxi is using a taxi app. Also, when using a taxi app, you can see the expected taxi fare in advance. It is an effective way for tourists to calculate their transportation expenses.
There are two ways to use a taxi app: domestic service if you have a Korean cell phone and credit card, and international service if you don’t. International tourists and residents may not have a Korean credit card, so many of them use the latter method. See the table below for further details.
How to use a taxi app
-
Install app and sign up
- Install your desired taxi app.
- Enter your information, including your cell phone number, and payment method.
-
Enter your destination
- Search your destination.
- Select your desired options, including the type of taxi, expected time, taxi fare and payment method, and then tap “Hail Taxi.”
-
Riding the taxi
- Before riding the taxi, you must check whether the license plate number is the same as that of the taxi assigned to you. You don’t need to tell your destination to the taxi driver.
- If you pay the taxi fare in advance though the app, be careful not to pay twice.
A person using a taxi app
Taxi apps
-
Domestic service
Kakao Taxi, etc.
- The app is linked to KakaoTalk, which is convenient.
- This is one of the most popular apps in Korea, so taxis are assigned very quickly.
-
International service
UT (Uber+TMAP), etc.
- This app is comparatively more accessible since you don’t need a Korean cell phone or credit card.
- Taxi drivers provide friendly services at reasonable prices.
Curbside taxis © Seoul Metropolitan Government Portal
#3. Types of Seoul Taxi Types of taxis and rates
Taxis available in Seoul can be divided into general taxis (sedan, SUV/van, deluxe, etc.) and special taxis for tourists and persons with reduced mobility. Special taxis, which include international and accessible taxis, are hailed differently than general taxis.
| Name | Images | Features |
|---|---|---|
| Sedan taxi |  | One of the most commonly used taxis. |
| SUV/van taxi |  | Recommended if you have a lot of luggage or are traveling in a group of 5 or more. |
| Deluxe taxi |  | Expensive rates, but you can enjoy better services in a premium vehicle. |
| Luxury taxi |  | As the most luxury vehicle type, luxury taxis are generally used for important guests. |
| International taxi |  |
|
| Accessible taxi |  © Seoul Metropolitan Government Portal | Accessible taxis operate for persons with disabilities, such as reduced mobility, since they have difficulty using general taxis. You can hail a taxi via app, website, or text message. |
- Taxi fares
- Policy > Transportation > Modes of Transport
#4. Seoul’s Efforts for Better Services Until everyone is satisfied!
Taxis are a mode of transport that provides convenience for everyone. International tourists who don’t speak Korean may worry that they may be overcharged or get caught up in a bad situation when they hail a taxi on the road. Preventing inconveniences in advance, Seoul is continuously developing and improving taxi services so that international tourists can use taxis without any concern.
A fare meter inside a taxi
Overcharged? Rude? Don’t worry! GPS-based fare meter and customer service
Seoul introduced GPS-based fare meters in June 2022. The new fare meter has resolved the failures and calculation errors of preexisting mechanical fare meters. The GPS-based fare meter has been installed in almost all sedan taxis. In the past, taxi drivers had to enter the fares of rides manually in the fare meter. However, the new fare meter has established a more accurate and stable payment system.
If you experience any inconveniences or are not satisfied with services in the taxi, contact 120 Dasan Call Center (02-120). (You must remember the entire license plate number to report.) 120 Dasan Call Center supports five different languages: English, Japanese, Chinese, Vietnamese, and Mongolian. You can not only report inconveniences, but you can also ask questions about Seoul’s policies, water bills, local taxes, etc.
120 Dasan Call Center
02-120 + 9 + language code
Hours: 9 AM–6 PM (KST)
- English: 1
- Chinese: 2
- Japanese: 3
- Vietnamese: 4
- Mongolian: 5
If you experience any inconvenience or witness any violation, record the situation with your smart phone and report by phone or email ([email protected]).
A passenger getting off their taxi at night
Ride taxis in Seoul worry-free even at night or in the middle of nowhere!
Ansimi app for safer taxi rides!
Worried about going back to your hotel alone at late night? Just use the Ansimi app! Linked to surveillance camera control centers in 25 districts and 70,000 smart surveillance cameras in Seoul, the Ansimi app protects users on their way home. In September 2022, the Ansimi app began to support English, Japanese, and Chinese. Now, international tourists can use the app anytime for their safety.
Then in November 2022, Seoul launched a safe taxi service in the Ansimi app. The in-app safe taxi service sends the rider’s data, such as information on their taxi, location, and time, to their registered guardian, acquaintance, and district surveillance camera control center. All you need to do is open the app and enter your destination before getting in the taxi.
English
Chinese
Japanese
In case of emergency in the taxi or on your way home, shake your smart phone or press the volume button (up or down) three times consecutively to report your situation. Once your report is received, the police will be dispatched to your location immediately for swift action.
Taxis in downtown Seoul
Seoul’s taxis prioritizes passengers’ safety from the moment they get in and until they get off. Riding a taxi in Seoul can be a lifesaving experience, whether you’re running late or want to get home safely late at night. Now, just hail and ride a taxi in Seoul to enjoy convenient, pleasant, and safe trips around the city!
