Getting around Korea

Subway, buses, taxis, trains — and the apps that actually work

Korea's public transport is fast, clean, cheap, and mostly English-friendly. The main thing to know upfront: Google Maps does not do walking or driving directions well in Korea. Download a local map app before anything else.

Maps: use Naver Map or KakaoMap

Both have English interfaces and full public-transport routing.
They show real-time bus arrivals, subway exits (crucial — exits can be far apart), and the fastest transfers.
Google Maps is fine for finding a place's location, but use Naver/Kakao for how to get there.

Subway

The subway covers Seoul and other big cities extensively. Tap your T-money card on the way in and out. Signs, announcements, and station names are in English. Line colors and numbers make transfers easy once you've done it once.

💡 Tip: Pick the right exit number before you surface — large stations have 10+ exits and choosing wrong can mean a long detour. Your map app tells you the exact exit.

Buses

Buses reach places the subway doesn't. Tap T-money when boarding and when getting off (the second tap gives you the transfer discount). Bus-stop signs and app arrival times are reliable. Colors roughly mean: blue = main routes, green = local, red = express/intercity.

Taxis

Use Kakao T to call one — it avoids language issues and shows the fare estimate.
Regular taxis are metered and reasonably priced; you can pay by T-money or card.
Late-night and long-distance may add surcharges.

Intercity: KTX & buses

For city-to-city travel, the KTX high-speed train is the fast option (e.g., Seoul–Busan in about 2.5 hours). Intercity buses are cheaper and reach smaller towns. Book KTX in advance during holidays.

Late at night: know the cutoff

Subways stop around midnight (roughly 24:00–01:00 depending on line and day, earlier on weekends/holiday schedules) and restart about 5:30am. Check your last train in Naver/Kakao Map — it shows exact times per station.
After the subway closes, options are taxis (expect a late-night surcharge and higher demand around 11pm–1am in nightlife areas) and Seoul's late-night "Owl" buses (N-numbered routes) on major corridors.
Kakao T at 11:50pm on a Friday in Hongdae is a battle — walk a block away from the main drag to get matched faster.

T-money leftovers: get your balance back

Leaving Korea with money on your card? Balances under ₩20,000 (minus a small service fee) can be refunded at convenience stores — hand the card over and ask for a refund ("환불"). Larger balances go through the T-money service center (Seoul Station area). Or simply keep the card: it stays valid for years and works on your next trip.

Check the weather before you head out

Rain changes everything about getting around Seoul. Live forecast by city:

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