Seoul Subway Guide for Tourists: Fares and How to Ride
The Seoul subway costs 1,550 won per ride with a transport card and 1,650 won with a single-use ticket, plus a small charge for longer distances. Buy a T-money card at a convenience store, tap in and out, and follow the line colour and the terminal-station name. Trains run from about 5:30 a.m. to midnight.
- Base fare
- 1,550 won by card, 1,650 won single ticket
- Best card
- T-money, from convenience stores (about 3,000 won)
- Hours
- About 5:30 a.m. to midnight
- Official info
- Visit Seoul subway page
What should I know before I ride?
Fares and rules checked October 3, 2026
The subway is the easiest way to move around Seoul, and the main things to settle are your payment card and your last train. Stations show names in Korean, English and Chinese characters, according to the Visit Seoul subway page, and trains announce stops in Korean and English, as the Seoul Metropolitan Government notes.
- Worth knowing: Trains run from about 5:30 a.m. until around midnight, and the exact times differ by station and direction, according to the Visit Seoul transportation page. Check the last train on a map app before a late evening.
- A common mistake: Throwing away a single-use ticket card. It carries a 500 won deposit that is refunded at a deposit refund machine.
- Local tip: A T-money card also works on city buses, with a 100 won fare discount and free transfers within 30 minutes, per the Visit Seoul transportation page.
How much does the Seoul subway cost?
The base fare is 1,550 won with a transport card and 1,650 won with cash or a single-use ticket. Seoul raised the base fare by 150 won on June 28, 2025, according to the Korea Herald and the Korea Times. Some official English pages still show the older 1,400 won card fare, so treat the figures below as approximate and confirm before you travel.
| Payment | Adult base fare | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| T-money or other transport card | 1,550 won | Discounted fare and free transfers |
| Single-use ticket or cash | 1,650 won | Plus a 500 won refundable deposit |
| Distance charge | Extra 100 won per band | Applies on longer trips beyond the base distance |
| Children (6 to 12) | 550 won | Teen fares are lower than adult fares |
Beyond the base distance, the fare rises in small steps. On a few lines such as the Airport Railroad and the Sinbundang Line, the Visit Seoul subway page lists an extra 100 won for each 5 km up to 50 km.
Which fare card should I use?
Use a T-money card unless you plan to ride the subway many times a day for several days. The card costs about 3,000 won at convenience stores according to the Visit Seoul transportation page, can be topped up with any amount and is reusable. The cash or card guide explains how to load it and get the balance back.
- T-money card: Best for most visitors. Works on subways and buses and saves you queuing at ticket machines.
- Single-use ticket: Fine for one or two rides. Machines offer several languages, including English, and you pay the deposit up front.
- Climate Card short-term pass: Seoul offers 1 to 7 day unlimited passes for the subway and buses. Reported prices are about 5,000 won for one day and 20,000 won for seven days, but these are not confirmed on an official page I checked, so verify before you buy. These passes reportedly do not cover the Sinbundang Line or the airport train.
Practical example: a visitor making four short rides a day in Seoul pays about 6,200 won a day with a T-money card, so a 5,000 won day pass would only pay off for heavier days of five or more rides.
How do I ride the Seoul subway step by step?
Tap your card at the gate, follow the colour and number of your line, board toward the end station, and tap out when you exit.
- Get a card. Buy a T-money card at a convenience store, or use a single-use ticket from a machine, choosing English on the screen.
- Tap in. Touch the card to the reader at the gate and walk through.
- Find your platform. Follow the line number and colour, then check the name of the final station in your direction of travel.
- Watch the stops. Announcements and on-train screens show the next station in Korean and English.
- Tap out. Use the exit number shown on the signs near the gates and tap your card again at the exit gate. A single-use card goes to the deposit refund machine.
How do transfers and extra fares work?
Switching lines inside the station is free, and you can transfer between subway and bus within 30 minutes with a transport card. According to the VisitKorea subway page, line-to-line transfers are free before you leave through a turnstile, except for the Sinbundang Line, which adds a section-based fee. A one-card journey is charged by total distance, so a transfer does not restart the base fare.
- Stay inside the gates: Follow the transfer signs rather than leaving the station and tapping in again.
- Top up in the station: If your balance is low, fare machines near the gates recharge the card, as the Seoul Metropolitan Government notes.
- Plan the airport leg: The AREX airport train also uses extra distance fares, so compare options before you land.
FAQ
How much is the Seoul subway for tourists?
The base fare is 1,550 won with a transport card and 1,650 won with a single-use ticket since June 28, 2025, plus 100 won per extra distance band. Confirm current fares on the official pages.
What is the best card for the Seoul subway?
A T-money card is the simplest choice for most visitors: it works on subways and buses, gives a small fare discount and allows transfers. Short-term Climate Card passes can suit very heavy riders.
What time does the Seoul subway stop running?
Trains run from about 5:30 a.m. until around midnight, but exact first and last train times vary by station and direction, so check the last train on your app.
Do I get my deposit back on a single-use subway ticket?
Yes. The 500 won deposit on a single-use card is refunded at a deposit refund machine at a station, so keep the card until you finish your trip.
Official sources and useful links
Links open in a new tab. Fares and times above are approximate; verify on these pages.
- Visit Seoul subway page operating hours, deposit refunds and extra-fare lines
- Visit Seoul transportation page T-money details, transfers and tourist transport cards
- VisitKorea subway page transfer rules and the Sinbundang Line fee
- Seoul Metropolitan Government: take the subway official notes on languages, maps and transfers
- Korea Herald report on the June 28, 2025 fare increase
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