How to use Local Public Transport in South Korea

Public transport is reliable and affordable throughout medium and large towns in South Korea, and even rural areas are fairly accessible by local bus.

This guide aims to explain everything you need to get started on local transportation when you first arrive in Korea.

Transportation Cards

To ride public transport in Korea, you need a transportation card, which you can use on the metro and buses throughout the country.

The main company that makes these cards is T-Money, and this name is used to refer to all transportation cards in Korea.

How to get a T-Money Transportation Card in South Korea

Most convenience stores sell transportation cards for between 3000 and 6000KRW (2-4€), depending on the design. You can pay this by card, but you must use cash to top up the card.

The journey price depends on distance and which city you are in, but is in the range of 1400-3000KRW. The metro from Incheon Airport to Seoul costs about 5000KRW.

Public Transport from Incheon Airport to Seoul

Once you have your transportation card, you can save the taxi fare by using the metro or express bus (‘airport limousine’) into the city.

The cheapest way to get from Incheon or Gimpo Airport to Seoul is by metro. The Airport Line connects both airports to Seoul Station, stopping at other stations where you can transfer to other metro lines.

There is also an express metro service from Incheon Airport to Seoul Station only, so make sure you get on the all-stop train if you need to transfer elsewhere.

It is also possible to use T-Money to pay for the airport express buses. These are the fastest and most comfortable way apart from taxi to get between Incheon and Gimpo airports and destinations in Seoul and Gyeonggi Province, but the price is about 18000KRW.

We recommend bringing cash of 20,000KRW per person to buy the card and get started if you plan to use the metro, or 40,000 to use the express airport bus.

What is the best Map to Navigate in South Korea?

Google Maps doesn’t work well in Korea. There are two Korean map apps: Kakao Map and Naver Map.

Either of these will tell you which lines to take from the airport to your accommodation.

Rules for riding Korean Public Transport

You must tap when you get on and off the bus, otherwise you will be charged the fare to the end of the line.

Don’t eat on public transport.

Each metro carriage has four pink seats and six grey seats at each end, reserved for pregnant, elderly, disabled or injured people. Do not sit there unless you belong to one of these groups!

On the bus, it is acceptable to sit in the yellow priority seats if the other seats are full. Just be attentive and offer your seat.

People don’t like it when you board the bus via the rear doors, unless it’s very busy then everybody does it.

Can I use one card for multiple People?

On the bus yes, on the metro no.

To use one card for multiple people on the bus, before tapping the card, say to the driver:

두 명이요 “du myongiyo” (two people)
세 명이요 “se myongiyo” (three people)
네 명이요 “ne myongiyo” (four people)