Subway decoded
Getting around

Seoul subway, decoded

For each station: which exit goes where, where the elevators are, what the Wi-Fi is called, and the one transfer trick we wish we knew the first time.

6 rules to ride like a local

T-money + what a ride costs
With a transit card a ride is ₩1,550 for the first 10 km (₩1,650 on a single-journey ticket), then +₩100 per 5 km — youth ₩900, children ₩550. The card itself costs roughly ₩3,000–4,000 at any convenience store depending on the design; that card price is not refundable, though you can claim the leftover balance back for a small fee. Reload at machines or the counter. We also issue a virtual T-money via the address card — coming soon.
Tap in AND out
Since 7 Mar 2026 skipping the exit tap automatically adds one base fare (adult ₩1,550 / youth ₩900 / child ₩550) to your NEXT ride, and it now applies across every metropolitan rail operator, not just Seoul Metro. Season passes, single-journey tickets and concession cards are exempt. If you forget, talk to a staff member at the station office.
Stand on the right, walk on the left
Escalator etiquette in Seoul. Busan less strict.
Priority seats — pink + dark blue
Pink seats are reserved for pregnant riders even when empty. Dark blue corner seats are for elderly / disabled. Locals avoid them by default.
No food / drink on trains
Coffee in a closed cup is tolerated; eating is not. Don't bring open street food.
Late-night routes
Most Seoul lines stop ~24:00. After that: N-buses (yellow) or Kakao T taxi.

Stations international visitors actually use

Hongik Univ. (Hongdae)

홍대입구 · Line 2

Hongdae shopping street, buskers, indie clubs, the airport-railway connector for Incheon (AREX).

Exit cheat-sheet
  • 1Mecenatpolis Mall · CGV cinema — Mall + food court.
  • 2AREX line transfer (to Incheon Airport) — Inside the station — follow purple signs.
  • 3Yeonnam-dong cafe district · Gyeongui Line Forest Park
  • 8Hongdae main shopping street — Most foreigners want this one or Exit 9.
  • 9Hongik Univ. busker street · Hongdae playground (free K-Pop dance covers Fri–Sat night) — ⭐ The exit if you came for "Hongdae".
Transfer tip
  • • AREX (orange) for Incheon Airport — same building.
  • • Gyeongui-Jungang line for Paju / DMZ — same hall.
♿ Elevators at Exits 1 and 9. Wheelchair-accessible AREX transfer.📶 Public WiFi Free🚻 Restroom: both
Make a cab card →

Myeong-dong

명동 · Line 4

Shopping, street food, cosmetics, halal restaurants, Lotte department store, Catholic Cathedral.

Exit cheat-sheet
  • 5Myeong-dong shopping street — Most useful exit.
  • 6Myeong-dong Cathedral · Halal & Turkish food cluster
  • 7Royal Hotel Seoul · Migliore Mall
  • 9Pacific Hotel · Namsan cable car bus stop
  • 10Lotte Department Store / Lotte Young Plaza · Eulijiro entrance
Transfer tip
  • • No interchange; nearest is Euljiro 3-ga (Line 2 / 3) — 7 min walk underground.
♿ Elevator at Exit 5 (closest to shopping street). Strollers OK.📶 Public WiFi Free🚻 Restroom: inside gate
Make a cab card →

Gangnam

강남 · Line 2

Office district, clinic / dental tourism, late-night dining and nightlife, Gangnam Style intersection.

Exit cheat-sheet
  • 1Gangnam Underground Mall (south side)
  • 6Coex / SMTOWN via shuttle bus · CGV cinema
  • 8Gangnam Station big-screen LED (Gangnam Style sign)
  • 10Gangnam Yeoksam: dental / skin clinics cluster
  • 11Sinnonhyeon walkway · Late-night BBQ joints
Transfer tip
  • • Direct Bus 9404 from Exit 6 to Incheon Airport (₩15,000).
♿ Elevators at Exits 1 and 11. Very wheelchair-friendly station overall.📶 Public WiFi Free🚻 Restroom: both
Make a cab card →

Jongno 3-ga

종로3가 · Lines 1, 3, 5

Insadong (traditional crafts), Tapgol Park, Jongmyo Shrine, LGBTQ+ bars, oldest hanok district.

Exit cheat-sheet
  • 1Insa-dong main road
  • 6Jongmyo Shrine
  • 15Pochasing pojangmacha alley (night street food)
Transfer tip
  • • Triple interchange — follow line color codes carefully. Line 1↔3 transfer is the longest (~6 min).
♿ Elevator at Exit 1 (Insadong side). Other exits have stairs only.📶 Public WiFi Free🚻 Restroom: inside gate
Make a cab card →

Gyeongbokgung

경복궁 · Line 3

Main palace gate, National Folk Museum, hanbok rentals.

Exit cheat-sheet
  • 5Gyeongbokgung Palace ticket gate · National Folk Museum — The one you want.
  • 3Tongin Market
  • 7Sejong Center (concerts, musicals)
♿ Elevator at Exit 5.📶 Public WiFi Free🚻 Restroom: both
Make a cab card →

Dongdaemun

동대문 · Lines 1, 4

Wholesale fashion overnight markets (Doota, Migliore), DDP architecture, late-night food.

Exit cheat-sheet
  • 7Doota Mall
  • 8Migliore Mall · Dongdaemun History & Culture Park (DDP) walk
  • 14Gwangjang Market (10-min walk west)
♿ Elevator at Exit 7.📶 Public WiFi Free🚻 Restroom: both
Make a cab card →

Dongdaemun History & Culture Park (DDP)

동대문역사문화공원 · Lines 2, 4, 5

DDP futuristic exhibitions, Migliore by night, gateway to Dongdaemun fashion stalls.

Exit cheat-sheet
  • 1DDP main entrance
  • 14Migliore back entrance
Transfer tip
  • • One of Seoul's longest underground transfers — Line 2 ↔ Line 5 takes ~8 min walking.
♿ Elevators on all three lines but follow signs carefully — interchange is in a 4-level station.📶 Public WiFi Free🚻 Restroom: both
Make a cab card →

Itaewon

이태원 · Line 6

Halal restaurants, US embassy area, international bars, mosques, expat services.

Exit cheat-sheet
  • 1Itaewon main street: Hamilton Hotel, Seoul Central Mosque (10 min uphill) — Halal restaurants cluster up the hill.
  • 4Antique furniture street · Bogwang-dong cafes
♿ Elevator at Exit 1 — slope to mosque is steep but paved.📶 Public WiFi Free🚻 Restroom: inside gate
Make a cab card →

Seoul Station

서울역 · Lines 1, 4

KTX intercity rail, AREX to Incheon Airport, KAL & city airport buses.

Exit cheat-sheet
  • 2KTX / Mugunghwa main hall
  • 9Lotte Mart Seoul Station
  • 14Airport buses (6001 / 6015) — For Incheon Airport.
Transfer tip
  • • AREX express to Incheon Airport leaves every ~30 min from B7. Tap the AREX gate, not the regular Line 1 gate.
♿ Full elevators and step-free routes. Wheelchair counter at KTX desk.📶 Public WiFi Free🚻 Restroom: both
Make a cab card →

Jamsil

잠실 · Lines 2, 8

Lotte World Tower (Seoul Sky), Lotte World theme park, Lotte Mall Avenuel.

Exit cheat-sheet
  • 1Lotte World Mall · Lotte World Tower (Seoul Sky)
  • 4Lotte World theme park entrance
  • 11Jamsil Olympic Stadium walkway
♿ Elevators at Exits 1, 4, and 11.📶 Public WiFi Free🚻 Restroom: both
Make a cab card →

Gwanghwamun

광화문 · Line 5

Gwanghwamun Square, Sejong statue, Kyobo Book Centre, embassies.

Exit cheat-sheet
  • 2Kyobo Book Centre
  • 5Gwanghwamun Square + Sejong statue
  • 7Sejong Center for the Performing Arts
♿ Elevator at Exit 5. Plaza is fully step-free.📶 Public WiFi Free🚻 Restroom: inside gate
Make a cab card →

Apgujeong Rodeo

압구정로데오 · Line 9

Plastic surgery clinics, K-Beauty boutiques, designer streets, K-Drama cafes.

Exit cheat-sheet
  • 2Rodeo Street (boutiques + clinics)
  • 5Galleria Department Store (luxury, tax-free counter)
♿ Elevator at Exit 2.📶 Public WiFi Free🚻 Restroom: inside gate
Make a cab card →

Samseong (COEX)

삼성 (COEX) · Line 2

COEX mall, SMTOWN, Starfield Library, aquarium, casinos for foreigners.

Exit cheat-sheet
  • 5COEX Mall main entrance
  • 6Bongeunsa Temple (subway-side)
♿ Elevator at Exit 5 — direct mall escalators.📶 COEX Free WiFi🚻 Restroom: both
Make a cab card →

Incheon Airport T1 (AREX)

인천공항 1터미널

Airport rail terminus.

Exit cheat-sheet
  • 1Terminal 1 arrivals
Transfer tip
  • • Express AREX = ₩13,000, 43 min to Seoul Station. All-stop AREX = ₩4,750, ~60 min.
♿ Full step-free.📶 AirportWiFi (free)🚻 Restroom: both
Make a cab card →