💳 T-money — Your Transit Key
T-money
교통카드 · Transit Card
〰〰
Inner Korea Guide
What T-money Covers
- All Seoul subway lines (transfer discount within 30 min)
- All city buses in Seoul, Busan, Daegu, and more
- AREX All-Stop airport train
- Kakao T and regular taxis (tap-to-pay)
- CU / GS25 / 7-Eleven convenience stores
- Ttareungi (Seoul public bikes)
Buy: Any CU / GS25 / 7-Eleven · ₩2,500–4,000
Top up: Station kiosks, convenience stores, or Visa/MC at station machines (new in 2026)
Top up: Station kiosks, convenience stores, or Visa/MC at station machines (new in 2026)
2026 Fare Reference
₩1,550
Seoul Subway base fare
₩1,500
Standard bus fare
₩200–400
Transfer discount (within 30 min)
Seoul Subway Lines — Quick Reference
Line 1
Line 2 · Hongdae, Gangnam
Line 3
Line 4 · Myeongdong, Itaewon area
Line 5
Line 6 · Itaewon, DMC
Line 7
Line 8
Line 9 · Express to Gimpo Airport
AREX · Airport Railroad
Bundang / Sinbundang
Climate Card (기후동행카드) — Best Value for Extended Stay
₩65,000 / 30 days — Unlimited Seoul Transit
- Covers all Seoul subway lines + city buses + Ttareungi bikes
- Worth it if staying ≥ 5 days in Seoul (break-even at ~42 rides)
- Buy at subway station customer service centers
- Works as a physical card (load and tap) — not an app
- Does NOT cover AREX airport line or KTX / SRT
⚠️ Navigation Apps — Critical Info
Do NOT use Google Maps for transit directions in Korea.
Korean law restricts map data export — Google's walking and transit directions are severely degraded. Use these instead:
🗺️
Naver Map (네이버 지도)
Best overall. Real-time subway, bus, walking. English UI available. Most accurate transit times.
MUST HAVE
🟡
KakaoMap (카카오맵)
Best for walking directions and indoor maps (shopping malls, subway stations). Excellent POI data.
MUST HAVE
🚇
Kakao Metro / Subway Korea
Subway-only navigation. Works offline. Clear line diagram, platform info.
TRANSIT
🚌
Kakao Bus
Real-time bus arrival times. Essential for bus travel — shows exactly when next bus arrives.
BUS
🚄 KTX & SRT — Intercity Rail
KTX Route Overview (Gyeongbu Line)
🏙️
Seoul
Station
Station
Start
🏛️
Suwon
~20 min
🍎
Daejeon
~50 min
🌊
Daegu
~1h 40m
⛩️
Gyeongju
(KTX only)
(KTX only)
~2h 10m
🌊
Busan
Station
Station
~2h 15m
📍 KTX (orange) and SRT (purple) intercity rail routes · Major cities marked · Data: OpenStreetMap
| Route | KTX | SRT | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seoul → Busan | ₩59,800 | ₩52,800 | ~2h 15min |
| Seoul → Daegu | ₩37,500 | ₩34,800 | ~1h 40min |
| Seoul → Gyeongju | ₩42,600 | — | ~2h 10min |
| Seoul → Gwangju Songjeong | ₩24,700 | ₩23,700 | ~1h 30min |
| Seoul → Jeonju | ₩22,100 | — | ~55 min |
Korail Pass — Foreigners Only 🎫
Unlimited KTX travel — requires passport at boarding
| Pass | Price | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| 2-Day Select (any 2 in 10 days) | ₩131,000 | Weekend trips |
| 3 Consecutive Days | ₩165,000 | Busan + Gyeongju trip |
| 4-Day Select | ₩234,000 | Multi-city tour |
| 5 Consecutive Days | ₩244,000 | Full Korea tour |
⚠️ Korail Pass is NOT valid on SRT. Book at korail.com (English section) or through Klook / Trazy resellers. You may need a Korean phone number for direct booking — resellers are easier.
💡 Book KTX Seats Early
Popular routes (Seoul–Busan) sell out 1–2 months ahead during holidays (Chuseok, Lunar New Year, golden weeks). Book through Klook or Trazy if you don't have a Korean phone number for registration on korail.com.
🚕 Taxi — App-Based Only
🟡
Kakao T
English UI. International card payment in-app. Shows fare estimate before booking. Driver tracking + route visible. Most reliable option.
RECOMMENDED
🚖
K.ride
Built for tourists. No Korean phone number needed. English-speaking driver matching. Good fallback to Kakao T.
TOURIST-FRIENDLY
2026 Taxi Fares (Seoul)
| Type | Base Fare | Night (00:00–04:00) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard (일반) — Silver/White | ₩4,800 | ₩5,800 | Per-km: ₩100/132m |
| Deluxe / Mobeom (모범) — Black/Gold | ~₩7,000 | — | English-friendly, more professional |
| International Taxi — Orange/Black | Flat rate | — | English-speaking drivers, set rates to airport |
⚠️ Avoid Flagging Street Taxis Late at Night
Overcharging and route detours are reported at night near Itaewon, Hongdae, and tourist areas. Always use Kakao T — the route is tracked and the driver is rated. If you must take a street taxi, confirm the meter runs or agree on a price before entering.
🚗 Renting a Car
Requirements
- International Driving Permit (IDP) — Geneva Convention format. Get it before leaving home.
- Home country driver's license (carry both together)
- Passport + credit card for deposit
- Age ≥ 21 (some agencies require ≥ 26 for premium vehicles)
Where to Rent
- Lotte Rent-a-Car — most branches, airport counters
- SK Rent-a-Car, KT Kumho — good online booking rates
- Hertz Korea — international system, easy foreign card
- Compact: ₩70–100k/day · SUV: ₩120–180k/day
🏝️ Best use case: Jeju Island
Public transit on Jeju is limited — renting is strongly recommended. Avoid driving in Seoul or Busan (heavy traffic, parking ₩3–5k/hr, confusing one-ways). Most navigation apps work with Korean addresses.
🛴 Micro-Mobility
🚲 Ttareungi (Seoul Bike)
- ₩1,000 / 1 hour daily pass
- Pay by credit card in app
- 500+ docking stations citywide
- Covered by Climate Card
- Great for Han River park rides
🛴 Kickgoing / Lime / Beam
- E-scooter apps — scan to unlock
- Helmet required by law
- No IDP needed (≤25 km/h)
- Kickgoing accepts foreign passport
- Ride on the road, not sidewalk
🚂 Regional Tips
- Busan: Dureraona bike share
- Jeju: Rent scooter or car recommended
- Gyeongju: Bicycle rental near stations — perfect for temples
- Jeonju Hanok Village: Bicycle rental widely available