A comprehensive review of Seoul’s subway
When you pay a visit to South Korea’s capital the easiest way to travel within this metropolis is by subway. It is the best underground system I’ve ever experienced and brings you from A to B in an efficient, clean and safe way for a reasonable price.
Efficient and clearly
Seoul’s extensive subway system has a good reach. Many areas in the city are accessible by the subway, as well as some towns of the provinces outside Seoul. Multiple lines are easy to identify and a transfer between those lines is a peace of cake due to clear signs and announcements in Korean and English language at every station. At some stations the announcements are also in Chinese and Japanese language. Line maps are located on every platform telling you in which direction the train is heading along with the names of the stops in that direction.
The real-time location tracking of the subway’s whereabouts on the screens at the station show exactly how far away your subway is. In addition, the application Kakao Metro provides an accurate real-time schedule and time estimated of the journey between stations.
Expansion
The metropolitan railway consists out of 21 lines. Despite that Seoul has been aggressively expanding its subway system in recent years with the addition of new lines and extensions of existing ones. The subway reaches until Gangwon province which is more than 100 km away from Korea’s capital.
Fares and schedule
Ticket prices are based on the distance traveled and are determined by zones. A map showing the subway lines and cost per stop from the starting point of the station in which you are standing can be found on the wall near the ticket seller’s booth and the ticket vending machines. The base price for zone 1 is W1000 (€ ,80). With a card called T-money you’ll get discounted to W900 (€ ,70). The T-money card will cost one-off payment W1500 (€ 1,17) and is easy rechargeable with cash and can also be used for bus and taxi.
For distances between 10–50 kilometers it costs W100 (€ ,08) for each additional 5 kilometer. If you need to travel even further away and exceed 50 kilometers distance it costs W100 (€ ,08) for each additional 10 kilometer. It is possible to travel on one-time tickets that can be purchased from either a ticket seller or vending machine.
In general subway trains operate in intervals of two and a half to three minutes during the morning and evening rush hours and at intervals of four to seven minutes outside rush hours. Depending on the line, trains begin running between 5:40 and 6 o’clock to stop between 22:30 and 23:00.
The T-money card is easy in use and the fares seem very reasonable and in my opinion the system where you pay an additional fee for additional 5 or 10 kilometers works very well, while it is also attractive to travel by public transport for people who live in Seoul’s outside suburbs. The subway reaches until more than 100 km from Korea’s capital, so a lot of Koreans can benefit from Seoul metropolitan subway. In my opinion eleven o’clock in the evening is early to end this important public transport system, but my guess that is due to safety regulations.
Clean and safe
Koreans like their subway clean. You will not find any waste in subway compartments and beside stations are kept clean. Another reason why everything looks so clean is because a lot of brand new stations were built.
Platform screen doors are present at every station and are being used to prevent people from accidentally falling onto the tracks, getting too close to moving trains, and committing suicide or homicide. Among other reasons, platform screen doors are a good appliance since South Korea has a high suicide rate.
Seoul is low on violent crimes and riding the subway feels very safe to me.
Service
In the subway there are special seats reserved for elderly and pregnant women. Don’t dare to take those seats. Respect for elderly is deeply embedded in Korean dignity.
The subway compartments are generally pretty spacious. During a Korean cold winter the subway seats are heated to make sure you have a comfortable ride.
When you exit the train, there will be a screen telling you what stop you are at, what transfers are available at the station, and on which side the doors will open.
You just missed your subway? There are different things you could do. Different screens are present that show weird commercials and funny animations. If you are hungry go to a convenient store inside the station, or when thirsty try some hot coffee or other juice from a vending machine. At bigger stations you have the option to do some quick shopping.
Free WiFi is everywhere in Seoul’s subway. At first glimpse that sounds good. Everyone wants to be connected nowadays. One main drawback is that human interaction hardly takes place in Seoul’s underground. People are present, but into their electric clouds. When Koreans go from A to B their preference is to do that in a quiet manner, so for conversation you’ve got to go elsewhere. In my opinion this contributes to individualism in Korean society.
Conclusion
Seoul’s Metropolitan Subway is excellent in all respects. Riding the subway is efficient, comfortable, service oriented, transferring to other lines is easy, you will get clearly and extensive announcements, it feels save and all that for a reasonable price. Don’t expect some gypsy artist playing your all time favorite song or some intensive conversation, but it will bring you smoothly from A to B.
Words JJB
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