Etiquette When Using Public Transportation

Handicapped Seating(reserved seats for the handicapped, the elderly, and pregnant women): When using the subway or the bus, it’s considered a crucial etiquette to yield one’s seat to an elderly, disabled, pregnant woman, or child/children. There are designated seats for the elderly, disabled, and pregnant women.

These seats can be seated when empty, but if anyone steps into the train that is applied to one of those signs, please rise and yield the seat for the needs.

When Stepping out of the Train: When waiting to ride on the train, always remember to wait until all passengers have stepped off from the train. After everyone has stepped out from the train, then walk in or congestion may occur.

Keeping the Serenity: Make sure to turn your phone to vibrate and when talking on the phone or even your company, please make sure to keep the voices down for other passengers.

Rubbish to the Rubbish Bin: Please hold your garbage at toss it at the near garbage can. Greatly offending the next train users will be the last thing that the metro would want 😦

Calming Down: Never run in the riding train or moving escalator. Injured passenger is last thing we want in a day!

About Transfer System

About Transferring System: In Korea, we have a transfer system where you do not have to pay another separate fare, but a few extra charge if you are using transportation more than once at a time. For example, if you were on a bus and are using subway right away after getting off the from it, as long as you tap your card to the card reader within 30 minutes regardless of which transportation system you use, you will only be charged few extra amount. When transferring from subway to bus (or vice versa), within 10km, no extra fare will be charged, only paying basic transit fare. However, if you travel 10km in total, you will be charged of 100KRW on every 5km. When only staying on the subway, however, the transfer rule differs. From 10~40km, 100KRW applies for every 5km and 100KRW for every 10km after 40km.

When using the subway/bus: When you are using the subway or bus, you always have to tap your card on to the card reader. Even when you are getting off the bus, you must tap your card on to the card reader or transferring system will not be applied.

Notes About Transferring System:

1.Only when using rechargeable cards, transferring system can be applied. Paying in cash or using one time usage card can not be applied with transferring benefits.

2.When you want to pay for your friend’s bus fare, just ask the driver for “two people” and tap the card. Transferring system does apply as long as you take another bus. (Bus to subway does not apply when two or more.)

3.Transfer system applies to when using:

        Bus-Subway-Bus

        Subway-Bus-Bus

        Bus-Bus-Subway

(Subway-bus-subway does not apply. After Subway-Bus, separate fare will be charged if getting on a subway again)

4.From 9pm to 7am, time required to transfer extends from 30mins to 60mins.

5.When you get on the same bus that you just got off from, transfer system does not apply. Even if you are getting on from the different side of the street, if it’s the same bus, original fare will be applied.

6.Buses of Gyeonggi-do does not provide transferring system when using buses of same color.

Stations

In Korea, the corresponding bus stations are located streets across from each other. However, both stations facing each other are driven into total different directions. The direction map of which way the bus is heading towards is at the station so it’s very crucial to see if the both station you’re waiting at and the bus you’re taking are correct! 

 

At most stops, screens are located to inform estimated time for the bus’ arrival. The number of the bus’ remaining minutes before the bus arrives and the station that the bus is at are shown on the screen. However, some stations does not provide this service. Especially in the rural areas, the station only inform of the buses that arrives, but not such information as when it will arrive. In Seoul, bus stops are located in the middle of the road sometimes, a center bus station (Joong-ang Bus Jung-Ryu-Jang). The route map for buses in Seoul is offered at Seoul Metropolitan office as well.

 

 

Similar rule applies for the subway stations as the bus stations. At subways, there are screens to inform the passengers when the train will arrive. It informs which station the train is currently at and remaining minutes until the train arrives to the pertaining station. Also, each barrier to enter the train has designated number. This number is correspondent to all stations. This number is helpful for when transferring(some numbers guides to the escalator), finding fast way to the exit, or even an easier way to find your friend at a train!

 

Fare

Subway Fare:

Adults

-One time usage Cards: 1,150KRW (+500KRW for deposit fee)

-Rechargeable Cards: 1,050 KRW (100KRW/5km for traveling between 10km~40km and 100 KRW/10km for traveling over 40km)

Youths

-One time usage Cards: 1,150KRW

-Rechargeable Cards: 720KRW

Children

-One time usage Cards: 500KRW

-Rechargeable Cards: 450KRW

*Children of under age of 6 gets a free ride.

*Rechargeable cards must be purchased separately and the extra amount will be charged for the card itself.

Bus Fare:

Blue Bus(Long distance routes inside Seoul):

Adults

-Cash: 1,150KRW

-Rechargeable Cards: 1,050KRW

Youths

-Cash: 1,000KRW

-Rechargeable Cards: 720KRW

Children

-Cash: 450KRW

-Rechargeable Cards: 450KRW

Green Bus(Routes focused on subway-bus connection):

Adults

-Cash: 1,150KRW

-Rechargeable Cards: 1,050KRW

Youths

-Cash: 1,000KRW

-Rechargeable Cards: 720KRW

Children

-Cash: 450KRW

-Rechargeable Cards: 450KRW

Yellow Bus(Short distance routes inside Seoul):

Adults

-Cash: 950KRW

-Rechargeable Cards: 850KRW

Youths

-Cash: 800KRW

-Rechargeable Cards: 560KRW

Children

-Cash: 350KRW

-Rechargeable Cards: 350KRW

Red Bus(Routes in Seoul and Gyeonggi-do):

Adults

-Cash: 1,950KRW

-Rechargeable Cards: 1,850KRW

Youths

-Cash: 1,800KRW

-Rechargeable Cards: 1,360KRW

Children

-Cash: 1,200KRW

-Rechargeable Cards: 1,200KRW

*Adults: From 19 and over

 Youths: From age 13 to 19

 Children: From age 6 to 13

*Rechargeable cards must be purchased separately and the extra amount will be charged for the card itself.

How to Recharge

To charge your Rechargeable Cards(T-money,Cashbee), just look for the logo!

(Cashbee logo)

(T-money logo)

Most convenience stores provide recharging service.

(Major convenience stores)

Also, while you walk down the street, you will often find tiny shacks that sell the exact same products as most convenience stores. These shacks provide recharging service also as long as they carry the logo, so always look out for the sign! If you can’t find any stores nearby, no need to worry. You can recharge your card by using the ‘Ticket Vending Machine’ located inside any subway station. Please note that recharging service only accepts payment of cash 😦

Transportation Cards

One time usage Card: One time usage cards can only be used for subway usage. When you enter the subway station, you will easily find numerous ticket vending machines. These machines provide directions to purchasing the ticket step-by-step in English. For one time usage cards, you must pay deposit fee of 500 KRW and this can be reattained by inserting the card into the ‘Deposit Refunding Device’,which is also located inside the subway station as well. Make sure you don’t damage the card to get your 500 KRW back!

(Deposit Refund Device)

*With one time usage card, you can not transfer from Seoul Station between Lines 1 and 4 to Seoul Station or the Airport Railroad Line and Gyengui Line or in Noryangjin Station of Line 1 between Noryangjin of Line 9. With these stations, please inquire with staff working at the station and they will guide you if you are unsure.

T-money/Cashbee:If you’re planning to use the transportation in the cities often or feel that purchasing one time usage cards for every destination is an annoyance, it’s better to purchase a rechargeable card for permanent use.

(Cashbee logo)

(T-money logo)

Also these rechargeable cards are 100KRW cheaper for every fare. And as a side note, T-money can be used at convenience stores like credit cards!

*For youths, registeration must be made online:  http://www.t-money.co.kr/

http://www.cashbee.co.kr

M-PASS Card:M-PASS stands for ‘Metropolitan Pass’ and it offers 20 rides per day in city areas and it can be used on the subway, buses, and taxis. You can purchase M-PASS card at I-Tour Seoul Center in Incheon International Airport. Deposit fee is 5,000 KRW and 4,500 KRW will be refunded once you return it to the I-Tour Seoul Center. You can purchase these cards as 1,2,3,5,or 7-day passes and these cards expire on the designated day. For example if you purchase a 2-day pass, it will expire the day after you used the card so please be aware! Perhaps you used up the days and need more balance to you the transportation system, you can simply re-charge them at any ‘Card Reload Devices’ located in the subway.

(M-PASS Card)

Prices for M-PASS Card:

1-day pass: 10,000KRW

2-day pass: 18,000KRW

3-day pass: 25,500KRW

5-day pass: 43,500KRW

7-day pass: 59,500KRW

Seoul City Pass:Seoul City Pass is similar to M-PASS card except it offers unlimited rides on the downtown route of Seoul City Tour Bus. It also offers 20% discount on evening routes. It comes only in 1,2,or 3-day passes, but the same expiration rule applies. You can purchase this pass at most convenience stores and I-Tour Seoul Centers.

(Seoul City Pass)

Prices for Seoul City Pass:

1-day Pass: 15,000KRW(Maximum of 20 subway/bus rides per day)

2-day Pass: 25,000KRW(Maximum of 40 subway/bus rides per day)

3-day Pass: 35,000KRW(Maximum of 60 subway/bus rides per day)

*Refund is unavailable

Seoul City Pass Plus:Seoul City Pass Plus is a T-money card with monetary transactions at four royal palaces: Gyeonbokgung, Chandeokgung, Changgyeonggung, and Deoksugung. You can also use it at convenience stores like credit cards. It also offers 5% discount on Seoul City Tour Bus and other numerous discounts at tourists sites and other entertainments. You can purchase the card at the convenience stores for 3,000 KRW. You can refund your remaining balance on the card by paying 500KRW. The card comes with discount guide booklet with your purchase. This is different from Seoul City Pass so make sure you look out for the correct one!

(Seoul City Pass Plus)

Credit/Debit Card:When you make any credit/debit cards in Korea, you can simply add transportation card option to your card. With this, you do not have to charge like T-money cards since it is a deferred payment. You just use it and make your payment at your designated date. However, this applies only for adults, teenagers must charge separately every time they are out of balance even if they have a transportation card option added to their debit cards.