Seoul Subway - Seoul Subway navigation & travel

The first Seoul Subway App tailored for international visitors

Features include a line map, route search function, usage information, real-time train updates, and tourism maps.

The Seoul Subway App was created by Seoul Metro, which manages subway Lines 1 through 8 in the city, to improve the experience for foreign users. This app allows tourists to navigate the subway system easily, providing location-specific updates from boarding to arriving trains.

The app includes the following key features:

▴ Route search by station name, number, and destination

▴ Real-time train information based on station or line

▴ Details about subway stations, arrival notifications, and train congestion levels based on current location

▴ Alerts for train delays

▴ Navigation assistance for locating restrooms within a station, exits, and transfer points

▴ Information about tourist attractions near stations and a map highlighting famous destinations in Seoul

With its user-friendly design and structure, the app is straightforward and convenient to use.

[Required permissions - Seoul Subway]

- Call: to reach a station office or emergency contact

- Files and media: to download necessary data for app functionality like line maps

- Location and nearby devices: to provide real-time boarding locations, arrival alerts, and report issues

[Optional permissions - Seoul Subway]

- Camera: to capture images for reporting issues

- Microphone: to enable features for individuals requiring transportation assistance and for voice recognition services

What should I do in the event of an emergency at a subway station?

At every Seoul Metro subway station, you will find the phone number of the station on the platforms and in the waiting rooms. The emergency telephones installed on the platforms will allow you to get in touch with the station authorities in the event of an emergency.

Alternatively, contact the Seoul Metro Customer Service Center on 1577-1234.

What would happen if I got stuck in a train door while boarding?

There is no need to worry about the train leaving with a body part or personal belonging stuck in the door. All Seoul Metro trains have an operator in the control room at the front of the train and a conductor at the back, who verifies that all of the doors are completely shut and signals the operator to indicate that it is safe to leave.

If a train door is left open by more than 7.5mm, due to a stuck object, the indicator at the side of the train lights up to let the conductor know that a door is ajar. In such an event, even if the conductor mistakenly sends a ""go"" signal to the operator, the train will not start due to the train's built in safety mechanism.

However, the sensor is unable to detect objects with a width smaller than 7.5mm, such as a piece of clothing or handbag strap. Train operators and conductors have been trained to check for such objects using surveillance monitors and to open the door again if necessary.

Even with the door safety system in place, you can cooperate with Seoul Metro to keep the trains safe by refraining from potentially dangerous behavior, such as running into closing doors or pushing personal belongings in-between doors to keep them from closing.

What is a single-trip card?

A single-trip card is a ticket, like the paper tickets used previously, that you can use for a single trip. After its successful trial, which began on May 1, 2009, the single-trip card replaced the paper ticket permanently on June 12, 2009.

All single-trip cards look the same, but the passenger information (adult/child/senior) is stored in the chip inside each card at the time of purchase. Subway station employees can read single-trip card information on the system and gates.

Why do I have to put down a deposit (500 won) to get a single-trip card?

Unlike paper tickets, which are discarded after a single use, single-trip cards are designed to be used semi-permanently and cost approximately 700 won to produce each card. The cost reduction achieved through the abolishment of paper tickets and the use of single-trip cards are lessened if single-trip cards are not returned or damaged. This will ultimately lead to subway fares being increased to cover the cost at the public's disadvantage. So the 500-won deposit is required to cover the cost of any unreturned cards.

No deposit would be required if the single-trip card could be collected automatically after use as the paper tickets used to be, but the card readers installed in the existing gates in subway stations (designed to read paper tickets) are unable to collect used single-trip cards.

The possibility of modifying the existing gates to open only when a card is inserted (recently-opened provincial subways have this system) was considered as a means of automatic card collection; however, as the entailing cost would be unreasonable (50 billion won), Seoul Metro has decided to use the existing system.