Transportation In and Around Seoul

Fortunately, Seoul has many different modes of transportation for getting from point A to point B! In order to best utilize all forms of transportation in South Korea, you will want to get a Tmoney transportation card shortly after arriving, which will get you onto trains and buses, and can be used in many taxis as well. These cards can be bought and reloaded with cash at stations and convenience stores, like GS25 and 7-Eleven. It will be your best friend when it comes to transportation!

• Subway: Taking the subway is one of the easiest and most efficient ways to navigate Seoul. You can download Naver Map or Google Maps to search your route, and the trains will take you there. You can use your T-money card to take the subway and top up your funds at any subway station.
• Bus: The bus system in Seoul is also quite nice, and allows you to see the city streets of Seoul while you’re on your way to your destination! Buses are numbered based on where they will depart from and venture to, so using a cell phone app for navigation will help you determine which bus to take.
• Cabs: Cabs are all metered and are quite affordable in Seoul, depending on how far you’re going. In some cabs, you can pay by credit card, but you should have cash available in case card payment is not available.
• Uber and KakaoTaxi: Uber is fairly affordable in Seoul as well, and you will use the app to set your destination (like you do here), which is helpful with language barriers. If it’s a shorter drive and you’re in a pinch, both Uber or cabs are a nice alternative. The Korean version of Uber is KakaoTaxi and you can download this app and pay with cash or card while in the car. English is available and it may be cheaper than Uber.

Transportation Apps

Navigating South Korea will be a bit different than how you may navigate your home country. Don't worry though, we will identify the apps that can help you get around.

• Naver Maps: One of the first things that you should download upon arrival in South Korea is Naver. Naver is an all-in-one application that you will need to travel around South Korea. Naver will provide you with accurate instructions to get you from point A to point B. Many establishments and events will also use Naver to sell tickets or make reservations as well. Naver Maps has an English option.
• Kakao Apps: Kakao operates many different useful apps in Korea such as Kakao Talk (discussed in the communication section), Kakao Taxi, and Kakao Maps. You will also want to download and utilize Kakao Maps and Kakao Taxi. Kakao Maps, like Naver, will provide you so much more accurate navigation in South Korea rather than Google and Apple maps. Kakao Taxi will also show you nearby taxis in your area. 

Travel Outside of Seoul 

Seoul has lots to see and do, but no stay in Korea is complete without getting out of Seoul and visiting all of the other places Korea has to offer! Intercity travel in Korea is very easy, so you don't have to let anything stop you from seeing lots of places in this beautiful country!

Buses: Intercity buses are the slowest and cheapest options for traveling between cities. They are very comfortable and usually go directly to the city center. You can use TxBus or Bustago to purchase tickets from various bus terminals in Seoul.

Trains: KTX trains are the fastest mode of transportation between cities in Korea. Most KTX trains leave from Seoul Station, but sometimes the KTX stations in other cities can be far from the city center and require transferring to a bus or subway. There are also cheaper slow train options that do not use the high-speed rail and take longer to reach their destination. Use the Korail website or app to book tickets. It is not recommended to book through secondary websites as they are more expensive and can be unreliable.

Flights: You can take flights to Busan and Jeju from Gimpo Airport, a local airport located right outside of Seoul. Budget airlines are available and tickets can sometimes be purchased for less than $100 round trip. You can take international flights to Japan, China, Taiwan and Southeast Asia from Incheon International Airport and Gimpo Airport (depending on the destination).

Travel Outside of Korea

Are you interested in traveling to Japan while in Korea? How about other places in Asia? Here are some things to keep in mind:

• There are many budget flights leaving from Gimpo Airport and Incheon Airport. You can find airport transport instructions here. 
• Make sure to check visa requirements for each country before you go. Visas to China and Vietnam for US Citizens in particular may require a longer processing time and require pre-planning.
• If you already have your Korean Residence Card, you can skip the foreigner immigration line when re-entering Korea and use the Korean/Residence Card holder line. 

You can also check out the CIS Abroad Japan and CIS Abroad Thailand guidebooks for country-specific tips and tricks!