The Seoul Metropolitan Subway is a
metropolitan railway system consisting of 23
rapid transit,
light metro,
commuter rail and
people mover lines located in northwest
South Korea. The system serves most of the
Seoul Metropolitan Area including the
Incheon metropolis and satellite cities in
Gyeonggi province
Gyeonggi-do (, ) is the most populous province in South Korea. Its name, ''Gyeonggi'', means "京 (the capital) and 畿 (the surrounding area)". Thus, ''Gyeonggi-do'' can be translated as "Seoul and the surrounding areas of Seoul". Seoul, the na ...
. Some
regional
In geography, regions, otherwise referred to as zones, lands or territories, are areas that are broadly divided by physical characteristics (physical geography), human impact characteristics (human geography), and the interaction of humanity and t ...
lines in the network stretch out beyond the Seoul Metropolitan Area to rural areas in northern
Chungnam province
South Chungcheong Province ( ko, 충청남도, ''Chungcheongnam-do''), also known as Chungnam, is a province of South Korea. South Chungcheong has a population of 2,059,871 (2014) and has a geographic area of 8,204 km2 (3,168 sq mi) located in ...
and western
Gangwon province, that lie over 100 km away from the capital.
The network consists of multiple systems that form a larger, coherent system. These being the Seoul Metro proper, consisting of Seoul Metro lines 1 through 9 and certain light rail lines, that serves
Seoul city proper and its surroundings; Korail
regional rail lines, which serve the
greater metropolitan region and beyond;
Incheon Metro lines, operated by
Incheon Transit Corporation
Incheon Transit Corporation (인천교통공사), formerly known as Incheon Rapid Transit Corporation (인천지하철공사) currently operates the Incheon Subway, Wolmi Sea Train, Incheon Bus information, Incheon Bus Terminal, Call taxi for ...
, that serve
Incheon city proper; and miscellaneous light rail lines, such as
Gimpo Goldline
The Gimpo Goldline ( or ) is a light metro line opened on 28 September 2019.
Background
Under the third mayor of Gimpo City, Kim Dongsik (김동식), the line was going to be an extension of Line 5. This idea was rejected by Seoul Metropolita ...
and
Yongin Everline, that connect corners of their respective cities to the rest of the network. Most of the system is operated by three companies –
Seoul Metro
Seoul Transportation Corporation, branded as Seoul Metro (Hangul: ), is a municipal-owned corporation owned by Seoul Metropolitan Government, and one of the two major operators of Seoul Metropolitan Subway with Korail.
History
* May 31, 2017 ...
,
Korail
The Korea Railroad Corporation (Korean: 한국철도공사, Hanja: ), branded as KORAIL (코레일, officially changed to in November 2019), is the national railway operator in South Korea. Currently, KORAIL is a public corporation, managed ...
(Korea Railroad Corporation), and
Incheon Metro - with the rest being operated by an assortment of local municipal corporations and private rail companies.
Its first metro line,
Line 1, started construction in 1971 and began operations in 1974, with
through-operation to Korail's suburban railways. As of 2022, the network has of track on lines 1–9 alone.
Overview
The first line of the Seoul Subway network started construction in 1971. The first section of subway was built using the cheaper
cut and cover
A tunnel is an underground passageway, dug through surrounding soil, earth or rock, and enclosed except for the entrance and exit, commonly at each end. A pipeline is not a tunnel, though some recent tunnels have used immersed tube constr ...
construction method. Initial lines relied heavily on Japanese technology, and subsequent lines procured technological imports from Japan and the United Kingdom. For example, Line 1 opened in 1974 with
through services A through service is a concept of passenger transport that involves a vehicle travelling between lines, networks or operators on a regularly specified schedule, on which the passenger can remain on board without alighting. It may be in form of eith ...
joining surrounding
Korail
The Korea Railroad Corporation (Korean: 한국철도공사, Hanja: ), branded as KORAIL (코레일, officially changed to in November 2019), is the national railway operator in South Korea. Currently, KORAIL is a public corporation, managed ...
suburban railway lines influenced by the
Tokyo subway. Today, many of the Seoul Metropolitan Subway's lines are operated by Korail, South Korea's national rail operator.
It has been described as the world's longest multi-operator metro system by
route length. The subway has free
WiFi accessible in all stations and trains. Nearly all stations have
platform screen doors installed; only some minor
Korail
The Korea Railroad Corporation (Korean: 한국철도공사, Hanja: ), branded as KORAIL (코레일, officially changed to in November 2019), is the national railway operator in South Korea. Currently, KORAIL is a public corporation, managed ...
-operated stations remain with open platforms. By 2017, Korail will completely install screen doors in every station and platform. The world's first virtual mart for
smartphone users opened at
Seolleung station in 2011.
All directional signs in the system are written in
Korean using
Hangul, as well as English and
Katakana
is a Japanese syllabary, one component of the Japanese writing system along with hiragana, kanji and in some cases the Latin script (known as rōmaji). The word ''katakana'' means "fragmentary kana", as the katakana characters are derived fro ...
/
Chinese characters
Chinese characters () are logograms developed for the writing of Chinese. In addition, they have been adapted to write other East Asian languages, and remain a key component of the Japanese writing system where they are known as ''kanji ...
for Japanese and Mandarin Chinese. In trains there are in addition many LCD screens giving service announcements, upcoming stop names,
YTN news, stock prices and animated shorts. There are also prerecorded voice announcements that give the upcoming station, any possible line transfer, and the exiting side in Korean, followed by English. At major stations, this is followed by
Japanese
Japanese may refer to:
* Something from or related to Japan, an island country in East Asia
* Japanese language, spoken mainly in Japan
* Japanese people, the ethnic group that identifies with Japan through ancestry or culture
** Japanese diaspor ...
, then
Mandarin Chinese, as well.
Seoul Subway uses full-color LCD screens at all stations to display real-time subway arrival times,
which are also available on apps for smartphones. Most trains have digital TV screens, and all of them have air conditioning and climate controlled seats installed that are automatically heated in the winter. In 2014, it became the world's first metro operator to use transparent displays for ads when it installed 48 transparent displays on major stations of
Line 2 in
Gangnam District.
All lines use the
T-money smart payment system using
RFID and
NFC technology for automatic payment by
T-money smart cards,
smartphones
A smartphone is a portable computer device that combines mobile telephone and computing functions into one unit. They are distinguished from feature phones by their stronger hardware capabilities and extensive mobile operating systems, which ...
, or
credit cards
A credit card is a payment card issued to users (cardholders) to enable the cardholder to pay a merchant for goods and services based on the cardholder's accrued debt (i.e., promise to the card issuer to pay them for the amounts plus the oth ...
and one can transfer to any of the other line within the system for free.
[With the exception of ]AREX
AREX (Airport Railroad Express) is a South Korean commuter rail line that links Incheon International Airport with Seoul Station via Gimpo International Airport. The section between the two airports opened on March 23, 2007, and line was extend ...
on Yeongjong Island
Yeongjong Island is an island off the west coast of the city of Incheon, South Korea, which contains Incheon International Airport as well as small villages, farms, and beaches. The previously separate Yongyu, Sammok, and Sinbul Islands have b ...
(extra charge applied depending on distance) and Shinbundang Line (extra charge of 500~1900 KRW depending on the sections used). EverLine
EverLine is a fully automated driverless people mover line in Yongin, Seoul Capital Area connecting Everland, South Korea's most popular theme park, to Bundang Line of the Seoul Metropolitan Subway. The system is identical to AirTrain JFK people ...
and U Line
The U Line is a driverless, fully automatic, grade-separated light rail or light metro line in Uijeongbu, Seoul Capital Area, South Korea. The "U" is short for the city Uijeongbu. The line uses Véhicule Automatique Léger (VAL) 208 trains buil ...
will allow free transfers from 2014.
Trains on numbered lines and light rail lines generally run on the right-hand track, while trains on the named heavy-rail lines (e.g.
Shinbundang Line,
Bundang Line
The Bundang Line or Seoul Metropolitan Subway Bundang Line (Sudogwon Jeoncheol Bundangseon 수도권 전철 분당선) was a commuter rail line of the Seoul Metropolitan Subway in the Seoul Capital Area operated by Korail. Also it refers physica ...
, and
AREX
AREX (Airport Railroad Express) is a South Korean commuter rail line that links Incheon International Airport with Seoul Station via Gimpo International Airport. The section between the two airports opened on March 23, 2007, and line was extend ...
) run on the left-hand track. The exceptions are the trains on
Line 1, as well as those on
Line 4 south of
Namtaeryeong station. These lines run on the left-hand track because these rail lines are government-owned or through-run to government own lines and follow a different standard to the metro, one that is followed by all national rail lines with the exception of the
Ilsan Line.
History
Line 1, from
Seongbuk station to
Incheon station and
Suwon station, opened on 15 August 1974. On 9 December 1978, the
Yongsan
Yongsan District (, ) is one of the 25 districts of Seoul, South Korea.
Yongsan has a population of 231,685 (2020) and has a geographic area of , and is divided into 19 ''dong'' (administrative neighborhoods). Yongsan is located in central Seoul ...
-
Cheongnyangni line via
Wangsipni (now part of the
Jungang Line) was added to Line 1.
Line 2 opened on 10 October 1980. In 1985, the fare system changed from charging by distance to zone and the
Edmondson railway ticket
The Edmondson railway ticket was a system for recording the payment of railway fares and accounting for the revenue raised, introduced in the 1840s.Farr, M (1997). "Edmondson, Thomas". In: Simmonds and Biddle (1997), Page 141 It is named after ...
changed to a magnetic paper ticket.
Line 4 opened on 20 April 1985, and
Line 3 on 12 July. On 1 April 1994, the
Indeogwon-
Namtaeryeong extension of Line 4 opened. The
Bundang Line
The Bundang Line or Seoul Metropolitan Subway Bundang Line (Sudogwon Jeoncheol Bundangseon 수도권 전철 분당선) was a commuter rail line of the Seoul Metropolitan Subway in the Seoul Capital Area operated by Korail. Also it refers physica ...
, from
Suseo station to
Ori station, opened on 1 September. On 15 November 1995,
Line 5 opened. The
Jichuk-
Daehwa extension of Line 3 opened on 30 January 1996. On 20 March, the
Kkachisan-
Sindorim extension of Line 2 opened.
Line 7 opened on 11 October, and
Line 8 on 23 November. On 6 October 1999,
Incheon Subway Line 1
Incheon Subway Line 1 is a north-south subway line, part of the Incheon Subway system. The line is also included as a part of the overall Seoul Metropolitan Subway network; Bupyeong Station has a free transfer with Seoul Subway Line 1, Gyeyang ...
opened.
Seoul Subway Line 6
Seoul Subway Line 6 is a line of the Seoul Metropolitan Subway. The route connects Eunpyeong-gu and Jungnang-gu in a U-shaped manner, running through Yongsan-gu and Seongbuk-gu. It does not cross the Han River. It is mainly used to connect to t ...
opened on 7 August 2000. In 2004 the fare system reverted to charging by distance, and free bus transfers were introduced. The
Byeongjeom-
Cheonan
Cheonan (; 천안시, ''Cheonan-si''), also spelled Ch'ŏnan, is a city in South Chungcheong, South Korea.
Cheonan has a population of 666,417 (2018), making it the most-populous city or county in South Chungcheong, and the third most-populous c ...
extension of Line 1 opened on 20 January 2005. On 16 December, the
Jungang Line from
Yongsan station to
Deokso station opened. The
Uijeongbu
Uijeongbu () is a city in Gyeonggi Province, South Korea.
Overview
Uijeongbu is located north of the Korean capital Seoul; it lies inside a defile, with mountains on two sides, and commands a natural choke point across the main traditional inva ...
-
Soyosan extension of Line 1 opened and shuttle service from
Yongsan station to
Gwangmyeong station began (with the route now shortened from
Yeongdeungpo to
Gwangmyeong
Gwangmyeong (; Korean: 광명시) is a city in Gyeonggi Province, South Korea. It borders Seoul to the east, north and northeast, Anyang to the southeast, Siheung to the southwest, and Bucheon to the northeast.
Gwangmyeong is home to one of t ...
) on 15 December 2006. On 23 March 2007,
AREX
AREX (Airport Railroad Express) is a South Korean commuter rail line that links Incheon International Airport with Seoul Station via Gimpo International Airport. The section between the two airports opened on March 23, 2007, and line was extend ...
opened. The
Deokso-
Paldang extension of the Jungang Line opened on 27 December. On 15 December 2008, the
Cheonan
Cheonan (; 천안시, ''Cheonan-si''), also spelled Ch'ŏnan, is a city in South Chungcheong, South Korea.
Cheonan has a population of 666,417 (2018), making it the most-populous city or county in South Chungcheong, and the third most-populous c ...
-
Sinchang extension of Line 1 opened. The magnetic paper ticket changed to an
RFID-based card on 1 May 2009. On 1 July the
Gyeongui Line
The Gyeongui Line is a railway line between Seoul Station and Dorasan Station in Paju. Korail operates the Seoul Metropolitan Subway service between Seoul Station and Dorasan Station.
History
''For the original line's history and other inf ...
from
Seoul Station
Seoul Station is a major railway station in Seoul, the capital of South Korea. The station is served by the Korail Intercity Lines and the commuter trains of the Seoul Metropolitan Subway.
Services
KTX
Seoul Station is the terminus of most ...
to
Munsan station
Munsan Station is a railway station on the Gyeongui Line. It is notable for being the closest station on the Seoul Metropolitan Subway to the border with North Korea that is open for passenger service, only a few kilometers away.
Services
As a ...
opened, and on 24 July
Line 9 from
Gaehwa station
Gaehwa Station is the only elevated station and western terminus of Seoul Subway Line 9. It is located near the border of Gimpo. It houses the headquarters of the Seoul Metro Line 9 Corporation.
Station layout
References
Railway stati ...
to
Sinnonhyeon station
Sinnonhyeon Station is a railway station on Line 9 and the Shinbundang Line of the Seoul Metropolitan Subway, located by the Kyobo Tower sageori in Nonhyeon-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul. It was the southern terminus of Line 9 from 2009 to March 2015, ...
opened.
The
Byeongjeom-
Seodongtan extension of Line 1 opened on 26 February 2010, and the
Gyeongchun Line
The Gyeongchun Line is a regional rail line between Seoul and Chuncheon, South Korea, operated by Korail. Its name is derived from Gyeong (, meaning the capital, Seoul) and ''Chuncheon''. It was completely reconstructed in the 2000s. Service on it ...
opened on 21 December. On 28 October 2011, the
Shinbundang Line from
Gangnam station
Gangnam Station is a station located in both the greater Gangnam area Gangnam District and Seocho District of Seoul, South Korea, on the Seoul Subway Line 2.
This station serves as a crucial transfer point between Line 2 and buses to all over Se ...
to
Jeongja station
Jeongja (formerly Baekgung station) is a station on the Bundang Line and the Shinbundang Line, an express subway in South Korea.
It was the southern terminus of the Shinbundang Line, between October 2011 and January 2016, when the Shinbundang Li ...
opened. The
Suin Line
The Suin Line (Suwon-Incheon) was a metro line of the Seoul Metropolitan Subway serving the Seoul Capital Area.
The original route, abandoned in 1995, was one of the few narrow-gauge railways in South Korea. Opened by the privately owned Chosen ...
, from
Oido station
Oido Station is a subway station in Siheung, South Korea. It is the current southwestern terminus of Seoul Subway Line 4 located almost 30 kilometers southwest of Seoul, connecting Oido to other parts of Korea. A commuter rail trip between this ...
to
Songdo station, opened on 30 June 2012. The
U Line
The U Line is a driverless, fully automatic, grade-separated light rail or light metro line in Uijeongbu, Seoul Capital Area, South Korea. The "U" is short for the city Uijeongbu. The line uses Véhicule Automatique Léger (VAL) 208 trains buil ...
opened on 1 July, the
Onsu-
Bupyeong-gu Office extension of Line 7 on 27 October and the
Gongdeok-
Gajwa extension of the
Gyeongui Line
The Gyeongui Line is a railway line between Seoul Station and Dorasan Station in Paju. Korail operates the Seoul Metropolitan Subway service between Seoul Station and Dorasan Station.
History
''For the original line's history and other inf ...
on 15 December, and on 26 April, 2013,
EverLine
EverLine is a fully automated driverless people mover line in Yongin, Seoul Capital Area connecting Everland, South Korea's most popular theme park, to Bundang Line of the Seoul Metropolitan Subway. The system is identical to AirTrain JFK people ...
opened. On 27 December 2014, the
Gyeongui Line
The Gyeongui Line is a railway line between Seoul Station and Dorasan Station in Paju. Korail operates the Seoul Metropolitan Subway service between Seoul Station and Dorasan Station.
History
''For the original line's history and other inf ...
was extended to
Yongsan
Yongsan District (, ) is one of the 25 districts of Seoul, South Korea.
Yongsan has a population of 231,685 (2020) and has a geographic area of , and is divided into 19 ''dong'' (administrative neighborhoods). Yongsan is located in central Seoul ...
and started through running to the
Jungang Line, forming the
Gyeongui·Jungang Line. The
Sinnonhyeon-
Sports Complex extension of Line 9 opened on 28 March 2015. On 30 January 2016 the
Jeongja-
Gwanggyo
Gwanggyo refers to a planned city surrounding Yeongtong-gu of Suwon and Suji-gu (or Giheung-gu) of Yongin
Yongin () is a city in the Seoul Capital Area, the largest in Gyeonggi Province, South Korea. With a population over 1 million, the city h ...
extension of the
Shinbundang Line opened, followed by the
Songdo-
Incheon extension of the
Suin Line
The Suin Line (Suwon-Incheon) was a metro line of the Seoul Metropolitan Subway serving the Seoul Capital Area.
The original route, abandoned in 1995, was one of the few narrow-gauge railways in South Korea. Opened by the privately owned Chosen ...
on 27 February.
Incheon Subway Line 2
Incheon Subway Line 2 is a 27 station subway line from Oryu-dong in Seo-gu to Incheon Grand Park., part of the Incheon Subway system. The line is also included as a part of the overall Seoul Metropolitan Subway network; Juan station has a fre ...
opened on 30 July, and the
Gyeonggang Line
The Gyeonggang Line (경강선) is a rail line in South Korea, which at present comprises two distinct sections. The first one, which opened on September 24, 2016, is part of the Seoul Metropolitan Subway system in Gyeonggi-do, South Korea, and ru ...
on 24 September. The
Gyeongui-Jungang Line is extended one station east to
Jipyeong station
Jipyeong Station is a station on the Gyeongui-Jungang Line in Gyeonggi-do, South Korea. It is the eastern terminus of the commuter railway, running from Seoul to Yangpyeong County. Mugunghwa-ho trains also stop at this station. It was originally ...
on 21 January 2017, with 4 round trips to Jipyeong station. On 16 June 2018 the
Seohae Line
The Seohae Line is a dual-track, electrified rail line in western Gyeonggi-do, South Korea. The Seohae Line is being built in four sections simultaneously. The first section runs south from Sosa in Bucheon, cross Siheung, and ends in Wonsi in A ...
opened.
Magongnaru station
Magongnaru Station is a railway station on Seoul Subway Line 9 and AREX
AREX (Airport Railroad Express) is a South Korean commuter rail line that links Incheon International Airport with Seoul Station via Gimpo International Airport. The sec ...
on Line 9 became an interchange station with AREX on 29 September 2018. Bundang line was extended northeastward to Cheongnyangni station, allowing for connections to the Gyeongchun Line and regional rail services on 31 December 2018. On 28 September 2019, the
Gimpo Goldline
The Gimpo Goldline ( or ) is a light metro line opened on 28 September 2019.
Background
Under the third mayor of Gimpo City, Kim Dongsik (김동식), the line was going to be an extension of Line 5. This idea was rejected by Seoul Metropolita ...
opened. On 12 September 2020, the Suin Line extension between
Hanyang Univ. at Ansan and
Suwon
Suwon (, ) is the capital and largest city of Gyeonggi-do, South Korea's most populous province which surrounds Seoul, the national capital. Suwon lies about south of Seoul. It is traditionally known as "The City of Filial Piety". With a popul ...
, beginning the interlining with
Line 4 between
Oido
Oido () is an island on the West Coast region of South Korea's Gyeonggi Province (also known as Gyeonggi-do). It is an area of Siheung stretching from north to south with low hills under .
Oido has shell mounds
throughout the whole area, with ...
and Hanyang Univ. at Ansan, as well as through-running with the
Bundang Line
The Bundang Line or Seoul Metropolitan Subway Bundang Line (Sudogwon Jeoncheol Bundangseon 수도권 전철 분당선) was a commuter rail line of the Seoul Metropolitan Subway in the Seoul Capital Area operated by Korail. Also it refers physica ...
to form the
Suin–Bundang Line
The Suin–Bundang Line (Suwon Incheon Bundang Line) is a commuter rail service of the Seoul Metropolitan Subway system, operating on trackage from the Suin Line (opened on June 30, 2012) and the Bundang Line (opened on September 1, 1994). O ...
. On May 24 2022, the
Sillim Line opened, becoming the newest addition to the Seoul Metropolitan Subway.
Lines and branches
The system is organized such that numbered lines, with some exceptions, are considered as urban rapid transit lines located within the
Seoul National Capital Area
The Seoul Capital Area (SCA), Sudogwon (, ) or Gyeonggi region (), is the metropolitan area of Seoul, Incheon, and Gyeonggi Province, located in north-west South Korea. Its population of 26 million (as of 2020) is ranked as the fifth largest met ...
(SNCA), whereas wide-area commuter lines operated by Korail provide a metro-like commuter rail service that usually extends far beyond the boundaries of the SNCA, rather similar to the
RER in
Paris. The AREX is an
airport rail link
An airport rail link is a service providing passenger rail transport from an airport to a nearby city by mainline or commuter trains, rapid transit, people mover, or light rail. Direct links operate straight to the airport terminal, while o ...
that links
Incheon International Airport and
Gimpo Airport
Gimpo International Airport (), commonly known as Gimpo Airport , formerly rendered in English as Kimpo International Airport, is located in the far western end of Seoul, some west of the Central District of Seoul. Gimpo was the main interna ...
to central Seoul, and offers both express service directly to Incheon International Airport and all-stop commuter service for people living along the vicinity of the line. While operating hours may vary depending on the line in question, the Seoul Metropolitan Subway generally operates from 5.30 a.m. until 1 a.m. on weekdays, and from 5.30 a.m. until midnight on weekends.
Rolling stock
Fares and ticketing
The Seoul Metropolitan Subway system operates on a unified transportation fare system, meaning that subways and buses in
Seoul,
Incheon and
Gyeonggi-do are treated as one system when it comes to fares. For example, a subway rider can transfer to any other line for free (with the exception of
Shinbundang Line,
EverLine
EverLine is a fully automated driverless people mover line in Yongin, Seoul Capital Area connecting Everland, South Korea's most popular theme park, to Bundang Line of the Seoul Metropolitan Subway. The system is identical to AirTrain JFK people ...
and
U Line
The U Line is a driverless, fully automatic, grade-separated light rail or light metro line in Uijeongbu, Seoul Capital Area, South Korea. The "U" is short for the city Uijeongbu. The line uses Véhicule Automatique Léger (VAL) 208 trains buil ...
, the latter two adding a flat charge of 200 and 300 won respectively). One can also transfer to any Seoul, Incheon, Gyeonggi-do, or some
Chungcheongnam-do city buses for free and get discounted fares on the more expensive express buses.
In the case of
Shinbundang Line, charges vary depending on the section used. The
Sinsa -
Gangnam section always charges 500 won, while the
Gangnam -
Jeongja section or the
Jeongja -
Gwanggyo
Gwanggyo refers to a planned city surrounding Yeongtong-gu of Suwon and Suji-gu (or Giheung-gu) of Yongin
Yongin () is a city in the Seoul Capital Area, the largest in Gyeonggi Province, South Korea. With a population over 1 million, the city h ...
section charges 1000 won when used alone, and 1400 altogether when used in conjunction with another. In total, the maximum added fee one can be charged is 1900 won, which can be achieved by using all three sections.
Fare payments in Seoul are mainly handled by
T-money and Cash Bee, which can also be used on buses, convenience stores and many other popular retail places. Riders must touch in a phone, card or other metro card and enabled device at the entry gates. Popular methods of payments are using NFC-enabled
Android smartphones (topped up or billed to the owner's credit/debit card via the
T-money app) or credit or check (debit) cards with built-in RFID technology issued by the bank or card company.
The current single-use ticket is a credit card-sized plastic card with
RFID technology, which can be obtained from automated machines in every subway station. A 500 won deposit fee is included in the price, and is refunded when the ticket is returned at any station. Multiple use cards are sold in convenience stores and the functionality is included in many credit/debit cards.
Fares (except for single-use tickets) are currently 1,250
won for a trip up to 10 km, with 100
won added for each subsequent 5 km. Once 50 km has been passed, 100 won will be added every 8 km. Single-use ticket users must pay RFID deposit 500
won plus 100 won surcharge to fare.
Half-priced children's tickets are available. The city government also uses
Seoul Citypass as a transportation card. Senior citizens and disabled people qualify for free transit and can get a free ticket or enter and exit using side gates rather than turnstiles.
International travelers can also use a Metropolitan Pass (MPASS) which provides up to 20 trips per day during the prepaid duration of 1 day to 7 days. Depending on where you purchase the card, the service is limited to the Seoul metropolitan area or Jeju Island and does not work in taxis or certain convenience stores.
Current construction
Opening 2023
*
Line 1 will be extended north from
Soyosan station
Soyosan Station is a ground-level metro station on Line 1 of the Seoul Subway in Sangbongam Dong, Dongducheon, South Korea. It is named after the nearby '' Soyosan'' (587 m), a mountain beside the U.S. Army base Camp Casey. It is on this ...
to
Yeoncheon station
The Gyeongwon Line is a railway line serving northeastern Gyeonggi Province in South Korea. The line is operated by Korail. The name of the line came from ''Gyeongseong'' (Seoul) and ''Wonsan'', the original terminus of the line, in what is now ...
in May 2023, the existing line between
Dongducheon
Dongducheon () is a city in Gyeonggi Province, South Korea.
The city, to the north of Seoul, is strategically important for the defense of the Korean capital. The main camps of the United States Second Infantry Division are in the city, and the d ...
and
Soyosan is to be upgraded and double-tracked.
*The
Seohae Line
The Seohae Line is a dual-track, electrified rail line in western Gyeonggi-do, South Korea. The Seohae Line is being built in four sections simultaneously. The first section runs south from Sosa in Bucheon, cross Siheung, and ends in Wonsi in A ...
will be extended north after March 2023 from
Sosa station
Sosa Station is a station on Seoul Subway Line 1 and Seohae Line in Bucheon City, west of Seoul.
History
The station was opened in 1997.
In the future, Sosa is planned to serve several new metro lines; Seohae Line
The Seohae Line is a dual-t ...
to
Daegok station, with transfers to Line 3 and the
Gyeongui-Jungang Line at Daegok. There will also be transfers to Line 5, 9, AREX, and the Gimpo Goldline at
Gimpo International Airport station
Gimpo International Airport Station is a subway, railway and light rail station on the Seoul Subway Line 5 and Line 9 and AREX and Gimpo Goldline. True to its name, it serves the nearby Gimpo Airport, the hub of domestic flights in the Seoul met ...
, as well as Line 7 at
Bucheon Stadium station. Services will run up to
Ilsan station
Ilsan Station is a station on the Gyeongui–Jungang Line. It is the oldest station in the city of Goyang, and the old station – built in 1933, while under Japanese rule – was designated as a national cultural asset in 2006.
External links
...
, sharing trackage with
Gyeongui–Jungang Line from
Neunggok station
Neunggok Station is a station on the Gyeongui-Jungang Line in South Korea.
External links
Station informationfrom Korail
The Korea Railroad Corporation (Korean: 한국철도공사, Hanja: ), branded as KORAIL (코레일, officially chan ...
to
Ilsan Station
Ilsan Station is a station on the Gyeongui–Jungang Line. It is the oldest station in the city of Goyang, and the old station – built in 1933, while under Japanese rule – was designated as a national cultural asset in 2006.
External links
...
. The line will also be extended in October 2023 from Wonsi to Seohwaseongnamyang.
*
Line 8 will be extended north from
Amsa station
Amsa station is a railway station on Seoul Subway Line 8 located over both Amsa-dong and Cheonho-dong in Gangdong-gu, Seoul
Seoul (; ; ), officially known as the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea ...
to
Byeollae station on the
Gyeongchun Line
The Gyeongchun Line is a regional rail line between Seoul and Chuncheon, South Korea, operated by Korail. Its name is derived from Gyeong (, meaning the capital, Seoul) and ''Chuncheon''. It was completely reconstructed in the 2000s. Service on it ...
in September 2023, with a transfer to the
Gyeongui-Jungang Line at
Guri station and also to ByeollaeByeolgaram Station in the future, with a transfer to Line 4
*
GTX A will open between
Dongtan station and
Unjeong station.
Great Train eXpress (GTX) is a new type of separate express regional railway which will comprise a network of 3 lines to complement the existing subway network. The first phase of the GTX A Line will ultimately include 11 stations, over 83.3 km.
Opening 2024
*The
Incheon Subway Line 1
Incheon Subway Line 1 is a north-south subway line, part of the Incheon Subway system. The line is also included as a part of the overall Seoul Metropolitan Subway network; Bupyeong Station has a free transfer with Seoul Subway Line 1, Gyeyang ...
will be extended north in December 2024 by 6.8 km, from
Gyeyang station
Gyeyang station is the northern terminus of Line 1 of the Incheon Subway. It is also a railway station on the AREX, a railway linking Seoul Station and Incheon International Airport.
In 2007, station for Incheon subway line opened and then AREX ...
to
Geomdan station, with 3 new stations. Geomdan station is later expected to become a transfer station with the
Gimpo Goldline
The Gimpo Goldline ( or ) is a light metro line opened on 28 September 2019.
Background
Under the third mayor of Gimpo City, Kim Dongsik (김동식), the line was going to be an extension of Line 5. This idea was rejected by Seoul Metropolita ...
and the
Incheon Subway Line 2
Incheon Subway Line 2 is a 27 station subway line from Oryu-dong in Seo-gu to Incheon Grand Park., part of the Incheon Subway system. The line is also included as a part of the overall Seoul Metropolitan Subway network; Juan station has a fre ...
, for which extensions are in planning.
* The
Wirye Line, another light metro line in southeastern Seoul, will open in 2024 between
Macheon station on Line 5 and splitting into two branches: one at
Bokjeong station on Line 8 and Bundang line, and one at Namwirye station, a station on
Line 8, with 12 stations planned. While technically part of the subway system, the Wirye Line will actually be a
tramway line.
Opening 2025+
*The
Dongbuk Line, a light metro line in northeastern Seoul, is scheduled to open in 2025 with 14 stations between
Wangsimni station
Wangsimni Station is a station on Seoul Subway Line 2, Seoul Subway Line 5, Gyeongui–Jungang Line, and Suin-Bundang Line; most Suin-Bundang Line trains end service here, though a few daily services continue along the tracks used by the Gyeon ...
and Eunhaeng Sageori station.
*The
Gyeonggang Line
The Gyeonggang Line (경강선) is a rail line in South Korea, which at present comprises two distinct sections. The first one, which opened on September 24, 2016, is part of the Seoul Metropolitan Subway system in Gyeonggi-do, South Korea, and ru ...
will be extended to the west, from
Pangyo station to
Wolgot station by 2026. The extension will be 49.6 km long, and partly share tracks with the
Sinansan Line
The Sinansan Line (Hangul: 신안산선, Hanja: 新安山線, meaning "New Ansan Line") is the tentative name of a commuter rail line that will eventually link Cheongnyangni station with western Gyeonggi province, passing through key areas of th ...
. There will be 11 additional stations to the line, including transfers available at
Wolgot station (
Suin-Bundang Line),
Siheung City Hall station (
Seohae Line
The Seohae Line is a dual-track, electrified rail line in western Gyeonggi-do, South Korea. The Seohae Line is being built in four sections simultaneously. The first section runs south from Sosa in Bucheon, cross Siheung, and ends in Wonsi in A ...
,
Sinansan Line
The Sinansan Line (Hangul: 신안산선, Hanja: 新安山線, meaning "New Ansan Line") is the tentative name of a commuter rail line that will eventually link Cheongnyangni station with western Gyeonggi province, passing through key areas of th ...
),
Gwangmyeong Station (
Line 1,
Sinansan Line
The Sinansan Line (Hangul: 신안산선, Hanja: 新安山線, meaning "New Ansan Line") is the tentative name of a commuter rail line that will eventually link Cheongnyangni station with western Gyeonggi province, passing through key areas of th ...
),
Anyang station (
Line 1),
Indeogwon station (
Line 4,
Indeogwon-Dongtan Line). Service may then be further extended further west towards downtown
Incheon using the tracks of the
Suin-Bundang Line.
*The
Sinansan Line
The Sinansan Line (Hangul: 신안산선, Hanja: 新安山線, meaning "New Ansan Line") is the tentative name of a commuter rail line that will eventually link Cheongnyangni station with western Gyeonggi province, passing through key areas of th ...
will open in 2025. The line will start at
Yeouido station
Yeouido Station is a subway station on Line 5 and Line 9 of the Seoul Subway system. It is one of the stations that serve the eponymous island of Yeouido, one of Seoul's financial hubs. The large Yeouido Park is close to this station.
A new su ...
and split into two branches: one to
Hanyang University ERICA Campus station, and one to
Songsan station on the
Seohae Line
The Seohae Line is a dual-track, electrified rail line in western Gyeonggi-do, South Korea. The Seohae Line is being built in four sections simultaneously. The first section runs south from Sosa in Bucheon, cross Siheung, and ends in Wonsi in A ...
. The second branch will partly share tracks with the Seohae Line and the
Gyeonggang Line
The Gyeonggang Line (경강선) is a rail line in South Korea, which at present comprises two distinct sections. The first one, which opened on September 24, 2016, is part of the Seoul Metropolitan Subway system in Gyeonggi-do, South Korea, and ru ...
.
*
Line 7 will be extended 3 stations northwards to
Okjeong station in
Yangju, with a transfer with
Tapseok station
Tapseok Station () is a station of the U Line in Yonghyeon-dong, Uijeongbu, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea. Line 7 on the Seoul Subway
The Seoul Metropolitan Subway is a metropolitan railway system consisting of 23 rapid transit, light metro, co ...
on the
U Line
The U Line is a driverless, fully automatic, grade-separated light rail or light metro line in Uijeongbu, Seoul Capital Area, South Korea. The "U" is short for the city Uijeongbu. The line uses Véhicule Automatique Léger (VAL) 208 trains buil ...
by 2025. It is also scheduled to extend from
Seongnam station to
Cheongna International City station
Cheongna International City () is a station of the AREX in Gyeongseo-dong, Seo District, Incheon, South Korea
South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea (ROK), is a country in East Asia, constituting the southern part of the Korean Pen ...
in 2027, with a transfer with
AREX
AREX (Airport Railroad Express) is a South Korean commuter rail line that links Incheon International Airport with Seoul Station via Gimpo International Airport. The section between the two airports opened on March 23, 2007, and line was extend ...
.
*
Line 9 will be extended 4 stations eastwards from
VHS Medical Center station
VHS Medical Center Station is a terminal railway station on Seoul Subway Line 9 in Gangdong-gu, Seoul
Seoul (; ; ), officially known as the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea.Before 1972, Seoul was t ...
to
Saemteo Park station, with a transfer with
Godeok station
Godeok Station is a subway station on Seoul Subway Line 5 in Gangdong-gu, Seoul. It links to Baejae High School, Myungil High School, Gwangmun High School, Hanyoung High School, and Hanyoung Foreign Language High School. It will be part of Seoul ...
on
Line 5 by 2028.
*
Hagik station, between
Songdo station and
Inha University station on the
Suin–Bundang Line
The Suin–Bundang Line (Suwon Incheon Bundang Line) is a commuter rail service of the Seoul Metropolitan Subway system, operating on trackage from the Suin Line (opened on June 30, 2012) and the Bundang Line (opened on September 1, 1994). O ...
, will open as an in-fill station once redevelopment of the area surrounding it is completed. This area will feature cultural, commercial, and medical facilities along with new residential areas.
Approved for construction
The following lines have not started construction, but are considered to be approved after their plans and their financing have been finalized. Most of these lines are scheduled to start construction in the next couple of years.
* The
Wirye–Sinsa Line, a light metro line in southeastern Seoul, will open between
Sinsa station
Sinsa station is a station on the Seoul Subway Line 3 and the Shinbundang Line. It is located in Sinsa-dong, Gangnam-gu and Seocho-gu
Seocho District () is one of the 25 '' gu'' (local government districts) which make up the city of Seoul, ...
and Wirye with 11 stations planned.
*
Line 7 will also be further extended 3 stations northwards from
Okjeong station in
Yangju, currently under construction, to the city of
Pocheon
Pocheon () is an inland city in the far northeastern region of Gyeonggi province in South Korea. It covers 2 with a population of 160,176 people, according to the 2008 census. Pocheon lies between Seoul and the mountainous northwestern areas of G ...
, with a terminus at
Pocheon station.
*The
Shinbundang Line will be extended north from
Sinsa station
Sinsa station is a station on the Seoul Subway Line 3 and the Shinbundang Line. It is located in Sinsa-dong, Gangnam-gu and Seocho-gu
Seocho District () is one of the 25 '' gu'' (local government districts) which make up the city of Seoul, ...
to
Yongsan station, with 3 new stations over 5.3 km. Construction will begin upon the completion of the transfer of ownership of the
Yongsan Garrison
Yongsan Garrison ( ko, 용산기지; Hanja: ), meaning "dragon hill garrison," is an area located in the Yongsan District of central Seoul, South Korea. The site served as the headquarters for U.S. military forces stationed in South Korea, known ...
to the Korean government.
*The
Shinbundang Line will also be extended south from
Gwanggyo Jungang station to
Homaesil station, with 5 new stations and 11 km of tracks. Construction will begin in 2023.
* The
Seobu Line is a new light metro line, which will have a length of 18 km and go through 16 stations, starting at
Gwanaksan station, which is also the last station of the
Sillim Line, and then go North-West across the Han River and up to
Saejeol station
Saejeol Station is a railway station on Line 6 of the Seoul Subway. It was originally planned to be called Sinsa Station, but the name was changed due to possible confusion with the pre-existing Sinsa station in Gangnam-gu
Gangnam Distric ...
on
Line 6. Construction will begin in 2023.
* The
Indeogwon-Dongtan Line is a new metro line in the south part of the
Seoul Capital Area. It will have 17 stations and a length of 33.7 km, starting at
Indeogwon station and terminating at
Dongtan station. Construction is scheduled to start by the end of 2021.
*
GTX B and
GTX C have been approved, and will offer new express commuter rail service to complement the existing subway service.
GTX C should start construction in 2022, and will go from
Suwon Station to
Deokjeong Station
Deokjeong Station is a station in Seoul Subway Line 1. On October 15, 1911, the service started. In 2006, it started to operate the metropolitan train.
Platforms
* Platform 1: to Hoegi (Rapid Line)
* Platform 2: to Uijeongbu / Cheongnyangni / Se ...
. Construction of
GTX B, which will go from Songdo station to
Maseok station, should follow soon afterwards.
Planned
Seoul City
The Seoul Metropolitan government published a ten-year plan for expansion of the subway with the following projects under consideration.
*
Gangbukhoengdan Line, a new line running in an arc north of Seoul between
Cheongnyangni station and
Mok-dong station
Mok-dong Station is a railway station on Seoul Subway Line 5 in Yangcheon-gu, Seoul
Seoul (; ; ), officially known as the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea.Before 1972, Seoul was the ''de jure'' capit ...
with 19 stations planned. The line will provide transfers to Lines 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 9, AREX, Gyeongui–Jungang, Gyeongchun, Bundang and Ui line.
*
Ui LRT will open a branch line from
Solbat Park station to
Banghak station on Line 1, the extension will open with 3 stations.
*
Myeonmok Line is a
light metro in the northeastern area of Seoul running between
Cheongnyangni station and
Sinnae station with 12 stations and connections to the Gyeongchun Line and Line 6.
*
Nangok Line is a branch of the
light metro Sillim Line in the southwestern area of Seoul running between Nangok-dong and Boramae Park with 5 stations planned.
*
Mok-dong Line is a
light metro in southwestern Seoul running between Sinwol-dong and
Dangsan station on line 2, with 12 stations planned.
*
Line 4 will start running express services between
Danggogae station
Danggogae Station is a station on Line 4 of the Seoul Metropolitan Subway
The Seoul Metropolitan Subway is a metropolitan railway system consisting of 23 rapid transit, light metro, commuter rail and people mover lines located in northwest ...
and
Namtaeryeong station.
*
Line 5 will start running shuttle services connecting
Gubeundari station
Gubeundari Station is a subway station on Seoul Subway Line 5 in Gangdong-gu, Seoul.
Overview
The name of Gubeundari literally means ''Bent Bridge''. It is named after the previous name of Gokgyo-ri (곡교리), a village near Cheonho-dong in ...
on the mainline and
Dunchon-dong station on the Macheon Branch.
*The
Sillim Line will be connected to Seobu Line with a track between
Seoul National University station (
Line 2) and
Gwanaksan(Seoul National Univ.).
Incheon City
The Incheon Metropolitan government is working on the Second Incheon Metro Network Construction Plan that inherits the Incheon Metro Network Construction Plan published in 2016. It includes the construction of five new tram lines. The draft is expected to be released in October 2020.
*Incheon Subway line 3 is planned to be a semi-circular subway line of Incheon. It will intersect
Seoul Line 1 at
Dowon station
Dowon Station is a station on Seoul Subway Line 1. It is on Gyeongin Line. It was opened in 1899 as Ugakdong Station, which was terminated from service in 1906. The station was reopened in 1994.
Vicinity
*Exit 1: Incheon Football Stadium
*Exit 2: ...
and to
Incheon Line 1 at
Dongmak station
Dongmak Station (Incheon Lifelong Learning Center) is a subway station on Line 1 of the Incheon Subway in Jiha80, Gyeongwon-daero, Yeonsu-gu, Incheon, South Korea
South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea (ROK), is a country in East ...
.
Network map
See also
*
Seoul Light Rapid Transit
*
Incheon Subway
The Incheon Subway () is a subway system serving the South Korean city of Incheon. The system is operated by Incheon Transit Corporation, and is part of the greater Seoul Metropolitan Subway.
Lines
Line 1
Line 1 is a north-south subwa ...
*
Pyongyang Metro
The Pyongyang Metro () is the rapid transit system in the North Korean capital Pyongyang. It consists of two lines: the Chollima Line, which runs north from Puhŭng Station on the banks of the Taedong River to Pulgŭnbyŏl Station, and the Hy� ...
*
Seoul Metropolitan Subway stations
Although each station of the Seoul Metropolitan Subway differs, most share certain characteristics. Stations range in size, from tiny local stations to large transportation hubs.
Subway exit/entrances
Outside each station, entrances are marked ...
*
Transport in South Korea
Transportation in South Korea is provided by extensive networks of railways, highways, bus routes, ferry services and air routes that traverse the country. South Korea is the third country in the world to operate a maglev train, which is an automa ...
*
List of metro systems
*
List of tram and light rail transit systems
The following is a list of cities that have current tram/streetcar (including heritage trams/heritage streetcars), or light rail systems as part of their regular public transit systems. In other words, this list only includes systems which ...
*
Incheon Airport Maglev
The Incheon Airport Maglev is a maglev line in South Korea opened on 3 February 2016. It is the world's second commercially operating unmanned urban maglev line after Japan's Linimo. The trains are lighter, cutting construction costs in half. ...
Notes
References
External links
* Official websites by company
*
Korail*
Seoul Metro*
Seoul Metropolitan Rapid Transit Corporation(Archeived)
*
Shinbundang Line*
Cyber Station - Map, station and route finder* Seoul city government
*
The Seoul Underground Subway: Official Seoul Tourism*
English-language WMV videodescribing Seoul Subway history, current construction and future projects
{{Rapid transit in Asia
Railway companies established in 1974
Underground rapid transit in South Korea