One of the biggest questions for international tourists visiting South Korea is what the transportation options are in the country. This article is designed to help you plan your trip by providing an overview of the different modes of transportation, including flights, trains, buses, and taxis, as well as transportation pass options.
Public transportation in South Korea
Public transportation in South Korea is very easy to use, as most of it is run by the government. English signs are also commonly used, making it easy for foreigners to understand. Even if you don’t speak any Korean, it’s still relatively easy to get around, but it’s helpful to have some information before you travel.
South Korean transportation cards
South Korea uses the T-money card, which is the main transportation card. While you can use a CashBee card in Busan, you can also use a T-money card in Busan, and you can use it for all other local transportation in cities across South Korea. You can easily purchase and reload these local transportation cards at convenience stores or train stations.
These transportation cards are all reloadable smart cards that can be used to pay for bus, train, and subway fares, as well as taxis marked with the T-money or CashBee logo. Using these cards gives you a discount on fares compared to paying cash, and they can also be used to pay at convenience stores.
Transportation cards are very easy to use, and you can tap them on and off while you’re on the go and top up your credit as needed with cash only. You can easily refund any remaining credit at convenience stores and train stations before you leave South Korea.
If you’re traveling between cities in South Korea by train or bus, you’ll need to purchase tickets separately.
South Korean public transportation apps
In South Korea, you can’t easily get around using Google Maps like you can in most other countries. Instead, you can use an app called KakaoMap to easily get around the country using public transportation or on foot. The app shows you different route options, including travel times, public transportation fares, and subway or bus routes.
You have the option to set the language to English. It’s a good idea to set your planned destinations and save them in the app to make it easier to use while you’re out and about. It’s easy to search for where you want to go – it doesn’t auto-populate your destination, so you may need to type it in, and tapping search will bring up relevant options to choose from.
To download, search for ‘Kakako map’ in the app store.
Transportation in Seoul, Busan, and other cities
Seoul, Busan, and other cities in South Korea are easy to get around using the local subway or bus system. For more information on the Seoul subway system, check out our detailed article to help tourists get around Seoul.
For local public transportation options, as described above, you can use KakaoMap to quickly view all public transportation options for getting from place to place, which can include a combination of subway and bus options, depending on the options available at that location.
Public transportation in South Korea’s cities
For public transportation between cities in South Korea, you have options including trains and buses. Here’s an overview of each option.
Booking is simple. You can use an app to make a reservation. Tmoney Go for buses and korailtalk for trains. If you need to pay in cash, you can do so from a salesperson at a bus or train station.
Trains in South Korea
South Korea has a network of high-speed trains called KTX, which travel at speeds of up to 305 km/h, and are operated by Korail, the national train operator, throughout the country.
Additional slower train services are provided by ITX, Mugunghwa, and Super Rapid Transit (SRT) trains on the same routes. The basic philosophy is that the slower the train, the cheaper the ticket. For a quick comparison, a KTX train ride from Seoul to Busan takes 2 hours and 15 minutes and costs about $US 53. A slower train option can take nearly 6 hours and cost $US 26.
Each route runs from one of three KTX stations in Seoul: Seoul Station in west Seoul, Yongsan Station in south Seoul, and Cheongnyangni Station in east Seoul. Suseo Station in Gangnam (south of Seoul) is another departure point for SRT trains, which connect to the KTX, so be sure to consider your departure point when researching your train options.
South Korea train map
Below you can see a detailed South Korea train map showing KTX routes. There are additional tourist train routes not shown on this map, which are detailed below.
Taxis in South Korea
Taxis are very convenient and relatively inexpensive to use in South Korean cities, especially in areas with less developed public transportation or late at night.
Fares vary depending on distance and time of day, with an additional night fare at night.
Taxis in South Korea are divided into regular taxis and model taxis. Model taxis are more expensive, but the quality of the vehicles is better and the service level of the drivers is higher.
The easiest way to hail a taxi is through a taxi app. Kakao T and Uber are the most widely used taxi hailing apps in South Korea. These apps make it easy to hail a taxi from your current location, and you can pre-populate your destination so the driver knows the route.
Bike rentals in South Korea
Bike rental services are available in many cities in South Korea. It’s easy to find bike rentals in smaller cities as well as larger cities like Seoul, Busan, and Daegu.
Bicycles are an ideal mode of transportation for enjoying the city’s parks and riversides, or for exploring the smaller islands. In most cases, bike rentals are charged by the hour or by the day, and in some cities, you can rent bikes for less through bike-sharing programs.
You can rent a bike with Kakao T, which you downloaded above, but don’t worry, there are other companies out there that you can scan a QR for.
You can also rent a bike directly from the rental shop, and in some cases, you can make a reservation online in advance. When renting a bike, it’s a good idea to wear a helmet for safety.
Tips for transportation in South Korea
When traveling and using transportation in South Korea, it’s helpful to keep a few tips in mind.
- Public transportation in South Korea generally runs on time, so it’s important to check the timetable in advance and arrive on time.
- South Korean roads are often congested, so it’s a good idea to allow extra time, especially during rush hour.
- Most transportation in South Korea provides information in English, but it can be helpful to know some Korean.
- When using transportation in South Korea, it’s important to always prioritize safety and obey traffic laws.
South Korea’s transportation system is efficient and offers many options, making it easy for travelers to experience the country’s beautiful sights and culture. We hope this article helps you plan your trip to South Korea. Have a safe trip!
