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South Korea

Seoul

Old and new Seoul face each other across the Han River, tied together by one of the world's largest metro networks.

Seoul Metro (Jihacheol)

The gates don't take overseas contactless cards - you buy a T-money or Climate Card and ride. Top-ups are cash only, but newer machines sell single tickets and short-term passes to overseas cards.

Updated on July 30, 2026

How to ride

  1. 1
    Get a transit card
    Buy a T-money card at a convenience store (CU, GS25...) or station machine. Avoiding cash? Get a Climate Card pass instead.
  2. 2
    iPhone? Go mobile
    On iPhone, the Tmoney app turns your phone into a T-money card; on Android, stick with the plastic card.
  3. 3
    Top it up
    Top up at a convenience store or station machine - cash (won) only. 10,000 won is plenty for your first day.
  4. 4
    Tap in at the gate
    Tap your T-money or Climate Card on the gate reader - tapping your own credit card won't get you through.
  5. 5
    One card, every line
    Line 9, Korail commuter lines, Shinbundang, GTX-A, Gimpo Goldline - different operators, one card covers them all.
  6. 6
    Always tap out
    Tap out with the same card - it also unlocks the 30-minute bus transfer benefit (transit cards only).
  7. 7
    Refund your balance before you leave
    Under 20,000 won? Refund at a convenience store (500 won fee). More than that needs a T-money desk at a major station or airport.

Fares

Single fares4

Single ride (transit card, by distance)
Base fare covers 10km, then +100 won per 5km (per 8km beyond 50km); most central trips stay at base
1,550 KRW ≈ $1
Single ride (single-journey card, cash)
Sold at machines; the 500 won deposit comes back after exit. No transfer or early-bird discounts
1,650 KRW ≈ $1
Early-bird fare (first train-6:30am)
20% off the base fare when you tap in by 6:30am with a transit card.
1,240 KRW ≈ $0.9
GTX-A base fare (regional express, separate)
1,550 base + 1,650 surcharge; +250 won per 5km beyond 10km. 10% off base on weekends and holidays
3,200 KRW ≈ $2

Passes & multi-ride1

Climate Card short-term pass (1-7 days)
5,000 (1-day), 8,000 (2), 10,000 (3), 15,000 (5), 20,000 won (7-day)
5,000〜20,000 KRW ≈ $4–15

Card itself2

T-money card purchase
Card cost, not a deposit (non-refundable); top-up separate. Sold for cash at stores and machines
2,500〜4,000 KRW ≈ $2–3
Climate Card physical card fee
Sold at the new station kiosks and convenience stores; foreign cards OK
3,000 KRW ≈ $2

Add-ons & fees1

Shinbundang Line surcharge
Added by section ridden - the express line toward Gangnam-Pangyo. Settled automatically by the same card
700〜2,200 KRW ≈ $0.5–2

Estimates use exchange rates as of November 4, 2026

Payment

Tap to ride
No tap-to-ride yet (from 2027); kiosks take foreign cards for tickets/passes
IC card
T-money / Climate Card - effectively mandatory
App tickets
iPhones can ride via the Tmoney app; Visa top-ups aren't accepted
Cash
Not at the gates - for buying single-journey cards and topping up

Quick facts

Hours
5:30-24:00
Frequency
Every 2-7 min
Fares from
1,550 KRW+

Heads-up

  • Leave priority seats free, pink is for expectant mothers

    Leave the priority seats free - the pink ones are for expectant mothers.

Timetable

Operating hours 5:30-24:00
Typical duration Most cross-town trips take 20-40 minutes
Check the official site for the latest times and service status

Route map

24 lines ·654 stations
© OpenStreetMapOpenMapTilesData (ODbL)
Editor Naotaka