| Practical Information > Transportation > Subways |
| Subway Information | Subway Lines |
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Subway Information
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Seoul |
Busan |
Daegu |
Incheon |
Gwangju |
Daejeon |
Airport Railroad
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For quickly getting around the city and avoiding the increasingly heavy road traffic,
taking the subway can be the best way to go. Subway lines go to most of the popular
areas, with stops near the major train stations and bus terminals. Station signs are
written in English and Korean, as well as Chinese characters at some stops.
Announcements about the upcoming stop are made in Korean, although most lines have
also added English announcements.
Subway cars are generally free of garbage and graffiti, although later at night
there may be some "leftovers" from someone drinking too much. Although
women have been warned to watch out for men's roaming hands during the crowded rush
hours, taking a subway is generally safe. Be aware of your surroundings though,
especially during rush hours when everyone gets jammed in tightly.Because of congested car traffic, subways are the fastest and most convenient mode of transportation from the suburbs into the city. As such, they become extremely crowded during the morning and evening rush hours. Even when not crowded, Koreans madly scramble for the available seats as soon as the car doors open, often pushing back those people trying to exit the train! Because of the captive audience of subway riders, you can often find people hawking umbrellas, folding fans, and all sorts of useless junk on the trains. Although usually easy to ignore, many times they pitch their wares with such loud voices that people sitting next to each other have difficulty carrying on a conversation. The subways are also favorite places for beggers. A blind or partially blind person (or sometimes a couple) will slowly walk from one end of the train to the other, either singing, playing a small musical instrument, or carrying a small tape player blaring old style music, and holding a small bowl for change. Sometimes you can find a child who leaves a small note and pack of gum on everyone's lap (the message is in Korean, asking to buy the gum from him/her) then goes back around to retrieve the note and gum or money. Then they move on to the next car. |
Buying a Ticket
Subway tickets can be bought at ticket vending machines (newer ones accept
coins and bills, while older ones will only take coins) or from a ticket window
near the entrance turn styles. Tickets are valid at any time. Frequent commuters
can save time and money by buying debit tickets, with the amount of each trip
automatically deducted from the ticket. (Foreigners who are taking language classes
can usually get this discount as well if they show their student ID.) Senior
citizens (age 65 and older) and the handicapped get to ride for free.If using a machine, push the button for the amount of the ticket you wish to purchase, then deposit money. The machine will create a ticket and return any change due to you. If using a ticket window, say the name of your destination station and pay the required amount of money. Although few ticket sellers will speak English, showing money and holding up your index finger (to signify "one ticket") can be understood by anyone. You will need to buy the larger fare debit tickets at a ticket window. 
Taking a TrainTake your ticket and feed it into the slot on one side of the turn style and walk through. Your ticket will be read and given back to you on the other side of the turn style if it is valid. Follow the masses to the platform and wait for the next train. Direction signs are in Korean as well as English. On the platform, station signs contain the name of the station, as well as the previous and next stations. |
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Seoul
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On August 15, 1974, Seoul became Korea's first city with a subway. It now has 8 completed lines and several branch lines that connect to the subway system, with close to 4 million users every day. Subway Fares 
One of the more confusing aspects of taking the subway in Seoul is that cars
on line 1 travel on the "left" (similar to the national train system
and the way people drive in Japan and England), while the other lines travel on
the "right" (see graphic).Another confusing aspect is that the subway system falls under diferent jurisdictions. The Seoul Metropolitan Subway Corporation (SMSC) takes responsibility for the area within the Seoul metropolitan area, while the Korea National Railroad (KNR) controls the links to the suburban areas. Seoul's completed subways are numbered and color coded:
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Busan
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Busan's line 1 runs from Nopo-dong in the
north to Sinpyeong in the southwest. Line 2
connects Hopo in the north to Jangsan.
All Lines Subway Fares Unit: won
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Daegu
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Daegu's line 1, completed in 1998, runs from Daegok
in the southwest to Ansim in the northeast. Line 2 will be added in 2005 and will run from Munyang to Sawol.
Subway Fares Unit: won
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Incheon
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Incheon opened its own line 1 in 1999, in addition to Seoul's
line 1 branch that runs from Inch'on to downtown Seoul.
Subway fares are the same as Seoul |
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Gwangju
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Line 1 of Gwangju's subway opened in 2004, running from Nokdong to Sangmu. Line 2 is scheduled to open in 2008 and will run from Okdong Depot to Pyeongdong.
Subway Fares Unit: won
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Daejeon
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| Daejeon's subway system is currently under construction. Line 1 |
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