How to Use the Seoul Subway: Fares, Tickets, Transfers and Etiquette (2026)

The short version

1. Get a transit card such as T-money from a convenience store and top it up with cash. See transit cards compared.
2. Look up the route in Naver Map or KakaoMap. They show the line, where to transfer and which exit to take. See apps you need in Korea.
3. Tap in at the gate, ride, and tap out when you leave. Always tap out, or you’ll lose your transfer discount.

Fares

Fare (adults)	With a transit card	With a single-journey ticket
First 10 km	₩1,550	₩1,650
10–50 km	+₩100 for each 5 km	Same
Over 50 km	+₩100 for each 8 km	Same

• Children (6–12) pay ₩550 and teenagers pay ₩900 with a card.
• Under-6s ride free, up to three per adult.
• Early-bird discount: tap in before 6:30 am with a transit card and the base fare is 20% cheaper.
• Recent change: the card fare went up from ₩1,400 to ₩1,550 on 28 June 2025, so older guides show lower prices.

Single-journey tickets

No transit card yet? Buy a single-journey ticket from the machines in the station.

• You pay the fare plus a ₩500 deposit.
• At your destination, put the ticket into the deposit refund machine to get the ₩500 back.
• Single tickets work on the subway only, not buses.

Transfers

You can switch between subway lines inside a station without paying again. Between the subway and buses:

• With a transit card you pay one combined fare, based on the total distance.
• Tap out when you leave the first vehicle.
• Board the next one within 30 minutes, or 60 minutes between 9 pm and 7 am.

Finding your way

• Lines have numbers and colors. For example, Line 1 is dark blue, Line 2 green, Line 3 orange and Line 4 sky blue. Follow the color and the line number on the signs.
• Signs are in Korean and English, and announcements on trains include English.
• Check the direction. Platforms are labeled with the next station and the final stop.
• Use the right exit. Big stations have a dozen or more numbered exits. Your map app tells you which exit is closest to where you’re going, and choosing the right one can save you a long walk.

Etiquette and rules

• Pink seats are reserved for pregnant women, and the priority seats at the ends of each car are for older people and people with disabilities. Leave them free.
• Rush hour is very crowded. Take off your backpack and hold it in front of you.
• Bicycles are allowed only on weekends and public holidays. Folding bikes are fine any day.
• Pets must be small and in a closed carrier. Guide dogs are welcome.
• One card per person. You can’t tap the same card twice for a friend.

Lost something?

Note the time, the car you were in and, if you can, the 4-digit train number (shown inside the car). Then contact the lost and found center for the line:

Lines	Center	Phone
1–2	City Hall Station	02-6110-1122
3–4	Chungmuro Station	02-6110-3344
5–8	Wangsimni Station	02-6311-6765

Outside office hours, call 1577-1234. Found items go to a lost and found center within a few days and to the police within a week. You can search for them at lost112.go.kr. Bring ID to collect your item.

Planning your days around subway stops? Try the Seoul 3-day itinerary or the trip planner.