Seoul Subway Etiquette: Seats, Bags and Phone Calls
Leave the pink pregnancy seats free unless you are pregnant, and offer any priority seat to older, disabled or pregnant riders. Keep phone calls short and quiet, wear a large backpack in front, and skip strong-smelling food. Most of this is custom, not law, so judgment matters.
- Pink seats
- Reserved by custom for pregnant riders; no legal enforcement
- Eating
- No explicit ban, but staff can act on strong odors and mess
- Calls
- Keep them short and quiet, phone on silent
- Official page
- Visit Seoul: Subway
What should I know before I arrive?
Rules and details checked October 17, 2026
Seoul subway manners are mostly unwritten: staff rarely enforce them, but other riders notice. The system runs on tap-in, tap-out gates, and Visit Seoul tells riders to use a transportation card or single-use ticket and wait for the reader's approval at both gates. Etiquette on board is a matter of consideration, and the city says it cannot legally enforce several of the common rules.
- Worth knowing: The pink pregnancy seats are voluntary. The Seoul Metropolitan Government says there is no legal basis to enforce exclusive use, according to The Korea Herald.
- A common mistake: Taking a call at normal volume. A guide from 10 Magazine (an unofficial site) advises setting your phone to vibrate and keeping conversations short and quiet.
- Local tip: Rush hour is tight, so wear a large backpack on your front. The same unofficial guide recommends it to free up space.
Who should get priority seats and the pink seats?
Give priority seats to older, disabled, injured and pregnant riders, and keep the pink seats free unless you are pregnant. The IBS living guide for foreign residents (an unofficial source) says reserved seats serve the elderly, injured people, pregnant women and mothers with small children.
- Pink seats: Seoul Metro has reserved priority seats for pregnant women since 2013, per The Korea Herald. The IBS guide says they are the single end seat on the larger bench in each car, marked by a sticker above the seat and a pink floor sticker.
- Anyone can sit, but you should give it up: The same guide says a non-pregnant person in the seat should rise when a pregnant woman approaches.
- Pregnancy badges: Pregnant riders may carry a badge on their bag. If you see one, offer your seat even if the pregnancy is not visible.
- Complaints are common: The city cited 7,334 complaints in 2022 and 7,086 in 2023 about misuse of the seats, according to The Korea Herald. Neither the city nor Seoul Metro supports mandatory empty seating, because of possible disruption to other passengers.
Practical example: if the pink seat is empty and the car is packed, you can sit, but stand when a rider with a badge boards. A short gesture and a smile are enough, and you do not need to speak Korean.
How should I handle bags and boarding?
Wear large backpacks in front, step aside for exiting riders, and form a line at the door marks. 10 Magazine (unofficial) lists these habits: lines of two to four at busy stops, letting exiting passengers leave first, and wearing a big pack on your front.
- Tap in and wait for approval. Visit Seoul says to use your card and await the reader's approval at the ticket gate.
- Line up at the platform marks. Stand beside the door, not in front of it, so exiting riders can pass.
- Let people off first. Step to the side and board after the car empties.
- Move inward. Slide into the car and swap a large bag from your back to your front or the floor.
- Tap out at your stop. The same page says to tap again at the exit gate.
For fares and card types, see our Seoul Subway Guide for Tourists. Transfers and exits are covered in Seoul Subway Transfers and Exits.
How loud can I be on the subway?
Keep your voice low and your phone on silent, and take only short, quiet calls. 10 Magazine (unofficial) advises vibrate mode, short calls and lower earphone volume, and notes that quiet cars are a norm rather than a rule. Group chats are fine at conversation volume. Video calls and speaker audio are the habits most likely to draw looks.
- Use earphones: Play video and music only through earphones, and keep the volume low enough that neighbours cannot hear it.
- Text instead of calling: A message is easier than a call when the car is full.
- Emergencies: Use the emergency phone on the platform or call the Seoul Metro customer center at +82-1577-1234, as listed by VisitKorea. The Korea Travel Hotline is 1330, according to Visit Seoul.
Can I eat or drink on the Seoul subway?
No law explicitly bans eating on the Seoul subway, but you should avoid strong-smelling or messy food. According to the Korea JoongAng Daily, Seoul Metro's passenger regulations (Article 34) let staff act against anyone carrying items that cause discomfort, filth or strong odors, including removal from the train. A 2018 ordinance banned eating and drinking on city buses, but no matching subway rule exists.
| Year | Complaints | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,009 | Korea JoongAng Daily |
| 2022 | 620 | Korea JoongAng Daily |
| 2023 | 833 | Korea JoongAng Daily |
| 2024 | 907 | Korea JoongAng Daily |
| 2025 (through September) | 828 | Korea JoongAng Daily |
The total is 4,197 complaints between 2021 and September 2025. On January 30, 2026, a Seoul Metro official said the agency would actively consider improving the related rules, according to Asia Economy, so check the operator's site if you plan to eat on board. A water bottle or a closed drink is the safe choice. Hot meals, fried food and open cups are not.
What are the unwritten rules at a glance?
Be quiet, be compact and be ready to stand. The table below sums up what each source says.
| Situation | What to do | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Pink pregnancy seat | Keep free; offer to a rider with a badge | IBS guide (unofficial) |
| Priority seat | Give up for older, disabled or injured riders | IBS guide (unofficial) |
| Phone call | Short and quiet; phone on vibrate | 10 Magazine (unofficial) |
| Large backpack | Wear it on your front | 10 Magazine (unofficial) |
| Strong-smelling food | Avoid; staff may act on odors | Korea JoongAng Daily |
| Tap-in and tap-out | Wait for the reader's approval at both gates | Visit Seoul |
Etiquette beyond the subway is covered in Korean Etiquette: 15 Dos and Don'ts for Visitors. Details can change, so verify the latest rules on the operator's page.
FAQ
Can I sit in the pink seats in Seoul if I am not pregnant?
You can, because there is no legal enforcement, but custom says to keep them free. The Seoul government told The Korea Herald there is no legal basis to enforce exclusive use. If a pregnant rider approaches, stand up.
Is it rude to talk on the phone on the Seoul subway?
Loud calls are frowned on. Unofficial etiquette guides advise vibrate mode, short calls and a low voice. Texting or a quick whispered reply is the safer choice in a full car.
Can I eat on the Seoul subway?
No explicit law bans it, but Seoul Metro rules let staff act on items that cause strong odors or filth. Complaints about eating total 4,197 from 2021 to September 2025, so avoid hot or smelly food.
Where should I put my backpack on a crowded train?
Wear it on your front or hold it by your feet. An unofficial etiquette guide recommends wearing a big pack in front to free up space for other riders.
Who do I contact if something goes wrong on the subway?
Use the emergency phone on the platform or call the Seoul Metro customer center at +82-1577-1234. The Korea Travel Hotline is 1330, according to Visit Seoul.
Official sources and useful links
Links open in a new tab. Details above may change; verify on these pages.
- Visit Seoul: Subway official overview of gates, transfers and the Korea Travel Hotline
- VisitKorea: Subway Korea Tourism Organization page with the Seoul Metro customer center number
- Seoul Metro (English) operator's site for maps, usage guides and service notices
- The Korea Herald: pregnancy seats news report on the city's position and complaint figures
- Korea JoongAng Daily: eating on trains news report on Seoul Metro rules and complaint data
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