Seoul subway for first-time visitors: a step-by-step guide
How to plan a route, read the signs, find the right platform and exit, transfer between lines and avoid common mistakes.
Seoul’s subway is clean, safe and signposted in English. Once you know how it works, it is the fastest way to get around the city. Here is a full ride, from planning to the exit.
Step 1: Plan your route
Use Naver Map or KakaoMap. Search your destination, choose the public transport option, and note three things:
- The line and its color (for example, Line 2, green).
- The direction, shown as the name of the next station or the last station on the line.
- The exit number at your destination.
See essential apps for how to set them up in English.
Step 2: Enter the station
- Look for the subway sign and the station name in English.
- Tap your T-money card on the gate reader. The gate shows the fare deducted and your balance.
Step 3: Find the right platform
Signs above the stairs show the line number, its color and the next station in each direction. Match the next station with your route in the app.
Step 4: On the train
- Screens and announcements give the next station in Korean and English.
- Each station has a number, for example 201 for City Hall on Line 2. The first digit is usually the line.
- Priority seats at the ends of each car are for older people, people with disabilities and pregnant women. Pink seats are for pregnant women.
Step 5: Transfer to another line
Follow the Transfer signs in the color of your next line. Big stations such as Seoul Station or Express Bus Terminal can involve long walks, so allow a few extra minutes.
Step 6: Choose the right exit
Big stations have ten or more exits, and they can be far apart. Directions in Korea are often given as “Exit 3 of Myeongdong Station.” Check the exit map on the wall near the gates, then tap out and follow the exit number signs.
Last trains and night travel
Most lines run until around midnight, but times depend on the line and the day of the week. If you miss the last train, see missed the last train.
Common mistakes
| Mistake | How to avoid it |
|---|---|
| Taking the train in the wrong direction | Check the next station on the platform sign before you board. |
| Using the wrong exit | Look at the exit map before you leave the gates. |
| Gate does not open | Top up your T-money card. |
| Tapping two cards at once | Keep your transport card separate from other cards. |
Etiquette
Keep phone calls short, let people off before you get on, and wear your backpack on your front when it is crowded. See our Korean etiquette guide.
Official sources
Prices, timetables and rules in Korea change often. We check this guide regularly, but please confirm details with the official sources linked above before you travel.