In Korea, there are different types of transportation that you can choose from and they use most of them inside the country. Below you have a list and ways you can use transportation as you please for easier access to the cities.
1. Airport
When it comes to airports, most flights from other continents land at Incheon International Airport, located west of Seoul in Incheon. It has 2 terminals, both connected to Seoul's metro and bus network. For details on the airport transport options, visit the official Incheon International Airport website for up-to-date information. The second most important airport is Gimpo International Airport, from which you can fly domestically or around Korea. If you fly to Busan, you will land at Gimhae International Airport (ticket prices vary depending on the season), and to Jeju at Jeju International Airport. All airports in Korea are connected to the local transportation network, all details are provided on the official airport pages or on the Maps, Naver Map (Android | iOS), and Kakao Map (Android | iOS) applications, which we will talk about in a different post.
2. Subway
Seoul Metropolitan Metro has 728 stations serving Seoul and its satellite cities, including Incheon. The next station is also announced in English, both vocally and on LCD screens, and the halls have colorful signs that guide you when you want to change the subway. The program of subway stations can be checked in real-time on one of the Korean applications that can also be set in English: KakaoMetro (Android | iOS), Subway Korea (Android | iOS), Korean Subway (Android | iOS). If you have NFC on your phone, you can connect your T-money smart pay card through the system and use your smartphone directly to enter the subway or a Korean debit/credit card with the T-money function. The price of a trip starts at 1,250 won for 10 km, and for every extra 5 km, 100 won is added. The subway is also found in Busan, Daegu, Gwangju, and Daejon.
3. Buses
Buses are particularly efficient, with neighborhood buses, long-distance city buses, regional buses, and buses to other cities connecting major terminals. The bus schedule in the city can be found in real-time with the help of applications Naver Maps, Kakao Maps, KakaoBus (Android | iOS), and applications that also have English configuration. Buses next to arrive are also announced on station screens and by voice message. If you want to travel to other cities, you can buy bus tickets at one of the bus terminals, or with the help of the application 고속 버스 티머니 (Android | iOS), there is the possibility to choose the type of bus: normal, fast, premium, etc.
4. Train
Another way to travel between cities is by train. It is of several kinds:
, ITX, KTX, in order of speed (and price). Tickets can be purchased at the train station, online on the Korail website, or using the 코레 일톡 APP (Android | iOS). There are also discounts or seasonal promotions, but in order to easily navigate the site and the application and discover them, knowledge of the Korean language is required. A Seoul-Busan one-way ticket costs about 50,000-60,000 won with KTX, while 무궁화 is only 28,600 won, however it takes longer.
5. Ferry
With over three thousand islands, South Korea has many ferry services which travel both domestically and to other nearby countries including China and Japan.
Passengers are required to carry a valid personal identification in the form of a passport or an alien registration card. When traveling domestically you can use your ID card only, however for Japan or China you require your passport, check-in procedures are relatively simple, however, travelers are recommended to arrive at the port terminal ahead of their departure time. Walk-in passengers are asked to arrive at the passenger terminal at least 40 minutes prior to departure. Passengers bringing vehicles are asked to arrive at the appropriate departure gate at least 1-2 hours before departure for ticket issuance and boarding.
Please note that ticketing booths close 10 minutes before departure, and after the ticketing booths are closed, even passengers with reserved tickets will be unable to pick up their ticket, and will not be allowed to board the ferry. Remember that besides the ferry ticket you will have to pay for the fuel type as well so be prepared.
Website for JeJu internally, Incheon and Pyeongtaek internationally. Busan internationally.
6. Taxi
A taxi is a safe but slightly more expensive form of transportation. Our recommendation is to order a taxi through the APP to make sure you don't pay more than necessary. The application we recommend is KakaoTaxi (Android | iOS), an application that is constantly evolving, becoming easier and easier to use. Recently, through the KakaoTaxi application, you can also buy train tickets.
These are the major means of transportation. For more details about T-money cards and some other things check our other articles.
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