🚄 Getting Around Korea: Transportation Guide

The KTX (Korea Train Express) is the fastest way to travel between cities. Running at up to 305 km/h, it connects Seoul to Busan in just 2 hours 15 minutes — versus 4+ hours by bus.

Key routes and travel times from Seoul (Seoul Station or Yongsan):

• Seoul → Busan: 2h 15min (₩59,800)
• Seoul → Daejeon: 50min (₩23,700)
• Seoul → Daegu: 1h 40min (₩43,500)
• Seoul → Gwangju (Songjeong): 1h 35min (₩42,600)
• Seoul → Jeonju: 1h 30min (via KTX-Eum, ₩26,200)

Booking tips:

• Book at letskorail.com (English available) or the Korail Talk app
• Book 1 month in advance for weekends and holidays — popular routes sell out
• Unreserved standing tickets are available on some trains at a 15% discount if seated tickets are sold out
• The KR Pass (₩121,000 for 3 days) is worth it if you're taking 3+ KTX trips

Korean cities have excellent subway systems. Seoul's metro is the most extensive with 23 lines covering the entire metropolitan area — you can reach virtually anywhere in the city by subway.

Fare: Base fare is ₩1,400 (T-money) or ₩1,500 (single-use ticket) for the first 10km, then ₩100 per additional 5km. Most trips within Seoul cost ₩1,400–₩1,800.

Operating hours: Generally 5:30 AM to midnight. Last trains vary by line and direction — check the Naver Map or KakaoMap app for exact times. On Friday and Saturday nights, Seoul runs extended late-night service on select lines until 1:00 AM.

Tips for riding:

• All station signs, announcements, and maps are in Korean, English, Chinese, and Japanese
• Priority seats (marked in a different color) are strictly reserved for the elderly, pregnant women, and disabled passengers — never sit there
• Transfer between lines is free within 30 minutes if you use T-money
• Luggage lockers are available at most major stations (₩1,000–₩3,000 per use)

Busan has 6 metro lines, and Daegu and Daejeon each have 2–3 lines. Smaller cities rely on buses.

The T-money card is essential for getting around Korea. It's a rechargeable transit card that works on all subways, buses, and even taxis nationwide — not just Seoul.

Where to get one:

• Convenience stores (CU, GS25, 7-Eleven) — ₩2,500 for the card, then load money separately
• Incheon Airport arrival hall (dedicated kiosks)
• Subway station vending machines

How to load money: Use cash at any convenience store or subway station recharge machine. Minimum load is ₩1,000. Machines accept ₩1,000, ₩5,000, ₩10,000, and ₩50,000 bills.

Why use T-money instead of single tickets:

• ₩100 discount per subway ride (₩1,400 vs ₩1,500)
• Free transfers between subway and bus within 30 minutes
• Works on buses (no need to fumble with cash)
• Accepted at convenience stores and vending machines

Mobile T-money: If your phone supports NFC, you can use the T-money app or add T-money to Samsung Pay. Apple Pay does not support T-money yet.

When leaving Korea, get your remaining balance refunded at any convenience store (minus a ₩500 processing fee).

City buses are extensive and cheap. In Seoul, buses are color-coded:

• Blue — Long-distance trunk routes across the city
• Green — Feeder routes connecting neighborhoods to subway stations
• Red — Express routes to/from satellite cities (Bundang, Ilsan, Incheon)
• Yellow — Short-loop circular routes within central districts

Fare: ₩1,400 (T-money) for city buses. Express buses (red) cost ₩2,500–₩3,000. Tap your T-money card when boarding AND when getting off — the exit tap calculates transfer discounts.

Intercity/express buses connect all major cities and are often cheaper than KTX:

• Seoul → Busan: ~4h 30min (₩23,000 regular, ₩34,000 premium)
• Seoul → Jeonju: ~2h 40min (₩13,800)
• Seoul → Gangneung: ~2h 30min (₩18,100)

Book intercity buses at kobus.co.kr (Express Bus) or bustago.or.kr (Intercity Bus). Both have English interfaces. Premium buses have wider seats, power outlets, and Wi-Fi.

Taxis are affordable and everywhere. They're a great option for late nights, heavy luggage, or destinations not easily reached by transit.

Fare: Base fare is ₩4,800 for the first 1.6km, then ₩100 per 131m. A 20-minute ride across Seoul typically costs ₩8,000–₩15,000. Late-night surcharge (midnight–4 AM) adds 20–40%.

Types of taxis:

• Regular (orange/silver) — Standard taxis, most common
• Deluxe (black) — More spacious, ₩7,000 base fare, better for airport runs
• International (orange with globe sticker) — Drivers speak basic English, same fare as regular

Ride-hailing apps:

• Kakao T — Korea's dominant ride app (like Uber). Available in English. Shows estimated fare before booking. Highly recommended.
• Uber — Works in Korea but only connects to licensed taxis (not private drivers). Less coverage than Kakao T.
• i.M Taxi — Alternative app, sometimes faster during peak hours

All taxis accept credit cards and T-money. If hailing on the street, check that the "빈차" (vacant) light is on. Show your destination on KakaoMap or Naver Map — this avoids language barriers.

Domestic flights are practical for reaching Jeju Island (the most popular domestic route in the world) and can save time for distant destinations like Busan.

Seoul to Jeju:

• Flight time: ~1 hour 10 minutes
• Frequency: 60+ flights daily from Gimpo Airport (GMP)
• Cost: ₩50,000–₩120,000 one-way depending on season and booking timing
• Airlines: Korean Air, Asiana, Jin Air, Jeju Air, T'way, Air Busan, Air Seoul

Other useful domestic routes:

• Seoul (GMP) → Busan (PUS): 1h (₩55,000–₩90,000) — only 15min faster than KTX door-to-door when you factor in airport time
• Seoul (GMP) → Yeosu (RSU): 1h (₩60,000–₩100,000)
• Busan → Jeju: 55min (₩40,000–₩80,000)

Budget tips: Book low-cost carriers (Jin Air, Jeju Air, T'way) 2–4 weeks in advance. Mid-week flights are significantly cheaper than Friday/Sunday. Gimpo Airport (closer to central Seoul, 25min by subway) is preferred over Incheon for domestic flights.