Seoul's subway covers nearly every major sight, and most visitors can plan a whole trip around station exits rather than taxis or buses. Exit numbers matter, because large stations have many exits and the wrong one can mean a long walk above ground. This guide covers how the system works, which card to carry, how to get in from the airport, and which exits serve six popular destinations. It ends with a short note on reaching Chuncheon.
How the subway system works
- Seoul Metro, the city's public transport operator, runs most of the numbered lines. Some lines and airport services, including AREX, are run by other companies but connect with the same network.
- Station names and line numbers are shown in English, and often in Chinese and Japanese, on signs and train announcements.
- Many stations have several exits. Check the exit number before leaving the platform, since the exit decides where you come out.
- Naver Map and Kakao Map both give subway routes, transfer points and exit numbers. Google Maps is less reliable for walking details in Korea, so install one of the Korean apps.
Transport cards
The usual choice for visitors is a rechargeable transport card, commonly T-money, which works on subways and city buses. Convenience stores sell these cards and can top them up with cash. Many phones can also hold a transit card, but support varies by phone and card type. Check the current rules on the official Seoul transport sites before you arrive. Fares and any tourist pass options change over time, so confirm them on the official site rather than relying on old blog posts.
From the airport to the city
- AREX connects the airport area with central Seoul. It also stops at Hongik Univ. Station, which makes it a convenient first stop if you are staying near Hongdae.
- Hongik Univ. Station is also on Line 2 and the Gyeongui-Jungang Line, so you can transfer to other parts of the city from there.
- If your hotel is elsewhere, use Naver Map or Kakao Map to compare AREX, airport buses and taxis for your exact destination.
Central sights: Cheonggyecheon, Ikseon-dong and Gwangjang Market
These three sit close together in central Seoul and work well as one connected route.
- Cheonggyecheon Stream: This 11-kilometre waterway is easiest to start at Cheonggye Plaza, its fountainhead. Take Line 5 to Gwanghwamun Station and use Exit 5, about a 1-minute walk. To join the stream mid-way, use Jonggak Station on Line 1 (Exit 5 or 6) or Euljiro 1-ga Station on Line 2 (Exit 2 or 3). Both lead down to the central bridge sections by stairs and ramps.
- Ikseon-dong Hanok Alley: Take Line 1, 3 or 5 to Jongno 3(sam)-ga Station and use Exit 4 or 6. Exit 4 is the most direct: cross the narrow pedestrian street ahead and you are in the northern alleys of Ikseon-dong within about a minute. The area is a maze of 1920s hanoks converted into cafes, bakeries and craft studios, so allow time to wander.
- Gwangjang Market: Founded in 1905, this is South Korea's oldest continuously operating permanent traditional market. Use Jongno 5-ga Station on Line 1, Exit 8, about a 1-minute walk. Euljiro 4-ga Station on Lines 2 and 5, Exit 4, is the alternative.
Yongsan, Hongdae and Gangnam
- The War Memorial of Korea: Take Line 4 or 6 to Samgakji Station and use Exit 12. The west gate is about a 3-minute walk away. Namyeong Station on Line 1 is a flat walk of around 8 minutes. The museum and outdoor park hold more than 10,000 artifacts, along with aircraft and tanks, so it suits a long visit.
- Hongdae Youth Street: Take Line 2, AREX or the Gyeongui-Jungang Line to Hongik Univ. Station and use Exit 8 or 9, about a 2-minute walk. The street is known for busking, indie music venues, streetwear shops and late-night eating.
- Starfield Library and COEX: On Line 2, Samseong Station Exits 5 and 6 lead underground straight into the COEX mall. On Line 9, Bongeunsa Station Exit 7 connects to the mall's northern arcade, about a 3-minute indoor walk. The library's 13-metre bookshelves and 70,000-plus volumes are in the central atrium.
Reaching Chuncheon
Chuncheon lies northeast of Seoul and is a popular day trip. The main rail option is the ITX-Cheongchun train, which runs from Seoul stations including Yongsan, so you can combine it with a War Memorial visit by subway. Express buses are the other common option. Departure points, schedules and booking rules change, so check them on the Korail site or in Naver Map or Kakao Map before you go. Leave extra buffer on weekends and holidays, when trains and buses fill up.
Tips
- Pick the exit before you leave the platform, using the exit numbers above or the signs in the station.
- For any sight not covered here, search it in Naver Map or Kakao Map and follow the suggested subway route and exit number.
- Keep your transport card topped up. Running out of balance at the gate holds up the queue behind you.
- Avoid large luggage on crowded trains. Station lockers, where available, or hotel storage make sightseeing easier.
- Let others exit before you board, and keep to the lane marked for queuing on the platform.
- Check the official operator sites for service notices, as lines can be affected by maintenance, weather or events.
- Many connecting corridors are long, so allow extra transfer time at major interchange stations.