Getting around Seoul is simple with a T-Money card and the Seoul Metropolitan Subway system.
If you are a first timer to South Korea and starting your trip in Seoul, the best way to get around the city is to take the Seoul Subway and use a T-Money or Climate Card (which we will explain later).
This post may contain affiliate links to tours and hotels. These help us earn a small commission at no additional charge to you.
Or you can buy a Subway ticket using cash at the vending machines – and the Seoul Subway cost is very cheap, with rides costing only 1,400 Won one way – that is only £0.74 / $1 USD / $1.50 AUD!
From Subway etiquette to the difference between the T-Money card and Climate Card, here is our ultimate guide to using the Seoul subway + photos.
You might like – 101 best things to do in Seoul, South Korea >
South Korea checklist
We love using agoda.com, expedia.com and booking.com for researching and booking all our hotels, and Hostelworld for booking hostels.
For booking tours, transfers and SIM cards we recommend Get Your Guide, Viator, Trazy or Klook.
For booking rental cars visit Discover Cars. For private drivers and taxis, check out our Transfer guide >
Check out our South Korea travel booking resources >
All set for South Korea? Do one final check with our Seoul first timers guide and our South Korea packing list
Seoul subway overview
The Seoul subway originally opened in 1974. There are 9 Seoul Subway lines which are used by millions of workers, tourists and locals every day. Trust us when we say the popular Metro lines get so packed during peak periods – so always allow extra time to make your trip.
It is easy to get around because the Seoul Subway lines are marked by colour and numbers – plus all station signs in Korean have an English translation below.
You might like – Our guide to the Seoul Airport Limousine Buses and fares >
Join our Facebook South Korea Travel Planning and Tips Group!
Need help with your itinerary or have any South Korea related questions? Head on over to our friendly and active Facebook group with over 150,000 members!
Click here to join our group >
Or if you just want to see more of our South Korea photos, follow our South Korea Facebook page >
Seoul subway opening / operating hours
Seoul’s subway system usually operates continuously from 5.30am until around midnight with departures every few minutes. If your trip is outside these hours, Seoul has a very good night bus network plus the Seoul Airport Limousine buses usually start from around 4am.
You might like – Our 3 day Seoul itinerary or 3 day Busan itinerary
Seoul subway prices and tickets
We’d recommend buying a T-Money card to get around on the Seoul subway as they are easy to top-up and you can benefit from transfer discounts – more on both of these shortly.
In South Korea, T-money cards initially cost 5,000 Won but last indefinitely and are very convenient to hop on and off public transport in Seoul and South Korea.
A minimum top-up starting balance starts from 1,000 Won on top of your purchase price.
A one way fare on the Seoul subway is 1,400 Won using a T-Money card – fares correct as of August 2025. Transfers between subway lines 1 to 9 in the same journey (without exiting a station are included / free).
Alternatively, you can use the Seoul subway purchasing single passes or multi-journey passes but this costs 1,500 Won per one way fare. There are ticket vending machines in all Seoul subway stations with English and other language settings.
Type in your location on the vending machine and insert the amount / balance shown (in Won) using cash.
Please note an additional refundable 500 Won deposit is added to your fare. To get this back, put your pass in the refund machines which you will see after the exit gates in every station.
You might like – 50 best things to do in South Korea including going to a Korean baseball game
Seoul subway discounts / transfers
Also note a fare discount applies if you make a transfer within 30 minutes of exiting a subway station in Seoul and then getting on a bus or walking to another station outside. From 9am to 7pm, fare discounts are made to transfers within one hour.
To receive transfer discounts in Seoul, you need to use a T-Money card and tap on / off on the scanners at the exit gates or on buses.
You might like – 20+ best K-pop activities in Korea including Myeongdong K-Pop shops
Arriving and boarding
Seoul subway stations are usually well signposted from street level and most signs are in Korean (Hangul) and Korean. For any difficulties you might have, download a translation app like Google Translate or Papago.
Most subway stations have several entrances – we found Naver maps MUCH more accurate at showing you the best entrance / exit than Google Maps.
You will also usually find an escalator or elevator / lift for those that cannot manage the stairs – the exit stairs can be slippery during rainy weather so be careful.
Buy your subway ticket or use your T-Money / Climate Card to go through the entrance gates – there is usually an LED indicator telling you off your balance – if your card has less than 1,500 Won balance on it, the gate might not let you pass so you will need to top up.
Follow the signs and once on the platform, queue in the marked line-up / queuing areas – note there are also women-only carriages on the Seoul subway on some lines and at certain times of the day.
You might like – 50+ things to do with kids in Seoul >
Seoul subway etiquette
There are a few rules and requests when using the Seoul subway including:
- Wait in line – let people off the subway first before boarding
- Use headphones when listening to music
- No eating or drinking
- Some seats (usually pink) are reserved for the elderly, disabled or pregnant ladies (although if we are being honest, not everyone complies with this)
- Take off any heavy backpacks so you don’t barge into people – from experience, it is also difficult to get on the Seoul subway with large luggage during peak times and ‘rush hour’
- Stand right on Seoul subway escalators
You might like – Our guide to the best day trips from Seoul including the DMZ
Korean transport apps – making the Seoul subway easy to navigate
Travelling to South Korea has never been simpler thanks to all the free smartphone apps available – from translation to transportation, weather to walks, South Korean phone apps when travelling make life so much easier.
The best Seoul subway apps in Korea are:
Seoul Subway Official app
To see which is the quickest and best route for you – this is the best Seoul app for planning your journeys and day trips from Seoul.
Backed by Seoul Metropolitan Government, this Seoul Subway app is aimed at foreigners offering real-time timetables, location-based guidance, and station directions.
Another feature of the Seoul Subway app is that if you get on the wrong train (which is easier than you think), it alerts you to say you are going in the wrong direction.
It also includes where to find toilets / restrooms on the Seoul subway system plus an indicator of how busy carriages are.
Download app links: Apple (iOS)｜Android
Subway Korea
An alternative to the official Seoul Subway Official app, this also includes Subway routes and planning for other Korean cities including Busan, Daegu, Gwangju and Daejeon.
All Subway information is in real-time and the app is available in English, Chinese, Korean and Japanese.
Download app links: Apple (iOS)｜Android
Naver Maps
The best map app to use in South Korea, Naver is your one stop map and transport app to use and download.
Many of the Naver Map locations have English and Korean descriptions but there are limitations to the app so sometimes you will see just Korean.
This is also a really useful Korean app to look at restaurant reviews and make table reservations.
Download app links: Apple (iOS)｜Android
You might like – The 30+ best Korea phone apps for travellers >
What are T-Money cards in Korea?
T-Money cards are top-up payment and transit cards that you can use on public transport and in taxis, as well as convenience stores, telephone booths and many electronic storage lockers. They usually cost 4,000 to 5,000 Won (plus whatever amount you top it up with initially).
To use a T-Money card in Korea, you can purchase one from a convenience store like 7-Eleven, CU stores or at stations and top it up using cash (Won only) or a debit card. Alternatively, there are T-Money vending machines available at Incheon International Airport.
You can also purchase a T-Money card / SIM card combo in advance with Klook for pickup at Seoul’s main airports. Click here to reserve online >
As well as convenience stores, T-Money cards can be used to purchase items in shops like Daiso, Starbucks, Dunkin Donuts, McDonalds and Lotteria (but alas not in Olive Young!).
Look out for the T-Money logo on display in shops that accept it as a payment method.
Please note only Korean Won can be used to top up a Korean T-Money card.
For more information on T-Money cards including how to get refunds and personalised cards, check out our more detailed T-Money card guide >
Climate Card – the alternative to T-Money cards
Introduced in 2024, the Seoul Climate Card is different from the T-Money card as it is an unlimited public transport pass for Seoul only.
The Climate Card can be used for unlimited travel for 30 days on the Seoul Metro, local buses (not the Airport Limousine or Intercity buses) and Ttareungi (Seoul bikes you can hire).
There are some exceptions – for instance you cannot use it on the AREX train from Incheon Airport into downtown Seoul BUT you can use it to go from downtown Seoul back to Incheon Airport. Nor can you use it on the Sinbundang Line / Dynamic Express Line.
The Seoul Climate Card price is 65,000 Won for a 30 day pass that includes Seoul subway, local buses and the Ttareungi / bikes – the Climate Card price is correct as of April 2025.
So the full Climate Card costs around £35, $46 USD or 40 Euros.
For a 30 day Seoul Climate Card without bike usage, the price drops to 62,000 Won.
You can also buy the following shorter duration Seoul Climate Card passes (all excluding bicycle rental):
- 1 day – 5,000 Won
- 2 day – 8,000 Won
- 3 day – 10,000 Won
- 5 day – 15,000 Won
- 7 day – 20,000 Won
Like the T-Money card, you must tap on and off the Climate card when using buses and trains. For bicycle hire, download the T-Money Go App, register your card then go to the bike tab – you can use bicycles for up to 2 hours at a time.
Climate Cards can be purchased from Seoul Tourist Information Centers, customer safety kiosks at selected subway stations on lines 1 to 8 and at some convenience stores near Subway stations. Top up kiosks can be found in Seoul Metro stations, Line 9, Ui-Sinseol Line and the Sillim line.
You might like – Our first timers guide to Seoul including SIM Cards and K-Beauty
Other things to know about the Seoul subway system
- There is free Wi-Fi and toilets at most Seoul subway stations
- Ads on TV screens on the Subway are very common
- Paper Seoul subway maps are available from Seoul tourist offices
- Keep an eye out for express options that bypass smaller stations (especially on line 9).
Found our Seoul subway article helpful?
Did you enjoy our article? Let us know in the comments or by sharing it on social media.
You can follow South Korea Hallyu on:
Instagram
Facebook group
Facebook page
TikTok
Thanks. Super helpful information. Do you know if there is an age limit, I will be traveling with a 8 and 13 year old and assume they will need their own T-money cards?