Getting around
Subway, buses, KTX and transit cards.
Climate Card Seoul: Short-Term Pass Prices and RulesBuy a ₩3,000 Climate Card at a Seoul subway machine or a convenience store near a station, then load a short-term pass: ₩5,000 for 1 day up to ₩20,000 for 7 days. It gives unlimited Seoul subway and Seoul bus rides. From October 1, 2026 it works only within Seoul, plus trips ending at Incheon Airport.Checked October 5, 2026KTX Booking for Foreigners: Korail Site, App and SRT MergerBook on Korail's English website or the Korail+ app and pay with a foreign credit card. Since 1 October 2026, sales open at 07:00 two months before departure. SRT was merged into KTX on 1 September 2026, so trains from Suseo are now booked through Korail as well.Checked October 5, 2026Naver Map and KakaoMap in Korea: Directions Without GoogleInstall Naver Map or KakaoMap before you fly. As of late August 2026, Google Maps in Korea still shows places and public transit routes but no turn-by-turn walking or driving directions, even though the government conditionally approved Google's map data request on February 27, 2026.Checked October 5, 2026Seoul Subway Basics: Fares, Tickets, Transfers, EtiquetteTap a T-money or other transit card at the gate and pay ₩1,550 for an adult ride of up to 10 km, or buy a ₩1,650 single-journey ticket plus a ₩500 deposit you get back at your exit station. Trains run from about 05:30 to around midnight.Checked October 5, 2026T-money Card in Korea: Where to Buy, Top Up and RefundBuy a T-money card at a convenience store (GS25, CU, 7-Eleven and others) or at Incheon Airport for about ₩3,000 to ₩5,000. Top it up with Korean won cash, tap it on buses and subways, and refund the leftover balance before you fly home for a ₩500 fee.Checked October 5, 2026