Like any capital, Seoul is a fairly large city, it has more than 10 million Koreans. Of course, it is difficult to imagine that the population of such a city can do without a subway.
general information
In Seoul, the first metro line was launched in 1974. Since then more than 40 years have passed, but construction has not even stopped. Annually new stations and branches are completed. Today the subway consists of 9 lines. In this megalopolis with a huge daily passenger flow of metro services, more than 7 million people use it every day.
Why is the subway in Seoul so popular?
According to the capital of Korea, traveling by land transport alone is almost impossible because of the huge traffic. Before visiting the country, please read the useful information about the most popular form of public transport:
- Scheme. Seoul Metro is one of the most comfortable in South Korea and in the whole world. In its scheme it is a bit like an octopus, stretching long tentacles in all directions, and from the number of lines and stations a little rippling in the eyes, but it is not difficult to understand it. Below is a photo of the Seoul metro scheme.
- Language. The names of stations are always announced in Korean and immediately duplicated in English, the same applies to station inscriptions and indexes. Lighting boards and signs are translated into several languages, because the tourist will easily navigate at all stations, even despite the large number of exits from the metro.
- Services for passengers. In the subway of Seoul, cellular communications work perfectly. It is pleasant to have cafes and vending machines with pastries, coffee and other snacks at each station. Very convenient and the fact that the stations are located near the airport and the station, which allows you to quickly reach the necessary place.
- Decor. In each metro train there are originally designed cars, and for the first time a person who has come to Korea will be very interesting here. For example, there are wagons with spring decoration, with water capsules, decorated with vegetation or decorated for some holiday.
Metro Seoul - how to use?
Each line has its own color, it is very convenient when viewing the circuit. Many are surprised to hear the answer to the question "How many subway stations in Seoul?", That there are 18 lines and 429 stations, which are located both in the city itself and in the suburbs.
Each station has its own number, and this makes it very easy for the city's guests to understand the whole map of the metro. If you need to go to another line, then just look for a transfer station at the intersection of 2 branches.
Direction indicators correspond to the color of their line, therefore it is rather difficult to get lost. Subway schemes are sold in cars, in stores, and even in cafes. All stations are decorated with subway maps. Among them there are even interactive, which will help to determine a convenient route between the necessary stations. The cards are so intelligible that they absolutely do not require translation from the Korean language.
Sights of Seoul with metro stations
When traveling through the capital of the Republic of Korea, you want to see as many sights as possible. Often tourists are interested in how to get to the Everland Park in Seoul or to the famous Mendon Street by metro . Very useful will know the necessary subway stations located near the most interesting places in Seoul:
- the Seoul TV Tower - Itaewon and Changmuro stations;
- Trade street Mendon - the same station, refers to the blue branch;
- amusement park Lotte World - Jamsil station;
- Everland Park - Chongdae Everland Station;
- The Olympic Park is located near the violet branch on the station of the same name;
- zoo - station Big Seoul park along the blue branch;
- The War Museum is located at the intersection of 2 lines, the nearest station is Jamsil.
What should a tourist know?
When visiting the sights, you need to know how much Seoul metro is open and how far it works. Do not forget that there is a certain schedule. Seoul metro hours:
- on working days - from 05:30 until 01:00;
- on weekends from 05:30 to 00:00;
Trains arrive at the station with an interval of 5-6 minutes, which ensures the uninterrupted transportation of passengers.
Payment for travel
Payment in the metro Seoul is made by means of transport cards "Citypass +". They are very convenient, because you can use them in any land transport, including taxis. They can be bought in a special machine at any metro station, and then replenished with money. How it all happens:
- the machine must be switched to English;
- after selecting the menu Get a transit card and the type of card Adult card;
- cash to pay 3000 won, i.е. $ 2.65;
- the machine issues a box with the card inside;
- in a special window of the machine Top-up T-money or Ticket Vending and Card Reload to replenish the card with money;
- the trip costs from $ 1.10, it all depends on the distance;
- passing the turnstiles, the card must be attached to the specified location.
Seoul Safe Metro
Some people have an insurmountable fear of going to the subway because they do not feel safe there . It should be noted that in Seoul's place, you do not have to worry about this.
Employees and passengers comply with all safety regulations, and for many years there were no problems with the trains. Also pleases the presence of policemen at all stations, and in an emergency, automatic weapons with gas masks are located, located at stations along the walls. Thanks to these measures, it can be argued that the metro of Seoul is one of the safest in the world.