Korea is famous for having a very efficient transportation system. In particular, the metropolitan area has a very convenient and efficient transportation system because it is densely populated. In addition, most transportation businesses are managed by state-run companies, so they can be used at low prices. Therefore, information about public transportation is essential when traveling or living in Korea.
First, let's look at intercity transportation. Intercity transportation is a means of transportation that allows you to travel between cities, and includes trains, buses, and airplanes. Korea has a dense network of railways and highways, so you can quickly travel to other cities. Also, since there are many people floating around, except for very small cities, there are frequent trains. For routes with many users, tickets can sell out quickly, so it is recommended to make a reservation in advance if you want to use intercity transportation. Below, I will introduce how to use and make a reservation.
In Korea, trains are the fastest means of transportation, excluding airplanes. So if there is a train station near the departure or destination, I often use the train. Trains can be broadly divided into high-speed trains and local trains. High-speed trains include KTX and SRT, and local trains include 무궁화(Mugunghwa) and ITX.
High-speed trains are fast enough to get from Seoul to Busan in just 2 and a half hours. However, the routes and regions where high-speed trains operate are limited. On the other hand, regular trains are slow, but they are cheaper than high-speed trains and can visit more diverse regions. Since you can transfer from high-speed trains to regular trains, it is recommended to use both high-speed trains and regular trains.
| Train type | hour (Seoul-Busan) |
charge (Seoul-Busan) |
| High-speed train KTX, SRT |
2.5 hours | 60,000 won |
| Regular train No. 무궁화(Mugunghwa), ITX |
5 hours | 40,000 won |
Most Korean train reservations can be made at KORAIL, but the reservation method for SRT is different from that of other trains. This is because the train operating companies are different, but the reservation method is similar, although the sites are different. You can check the information and reservation method for KTX and various other trains through the link below.
Express buses in Korea are the easiest way to travel to other cities. They are cheap and most areas have terminals or stops, so you can easily get to your destination without complicated planning. However, they take longer than high-speed trains, and if you get carsick, you may have a hard time riding a bus for a long time. However, recent express buses have wider and more comfortable seats, so you can travel long distances comfortably. In addition, premium class buses provide more comfortable seats and personal space. For more information about express buses and how to reserve them, please check the link below.
Korea is a small country, but there are airports around major cities and tourist destinations, so taking a plane is a good option. If you take a domestic flight, the flight time is at most 30 minutes, and considering the takeoff and landing time, it is only about an hour, so it can be a better option than taking a bus or train. Also, depending on the date or time, the price can be cheaper.
In the picture above, the blue airport is an international airport and the red airport is a regular airport. Among the international airports, Incheon International Airport is the largest airport in Korea and handles most of the international flights coming into Korea and serves as a hub in East Asia. Most foreigners are likely to visit Korea through Incheon International Airport. Regular airports are airports that only operate domestic flights and are recommended for use when traveling to various tourist destinations in Korea.
City transportation is a means of transportation that allows you to move within the city or to travel to nearby cities. In Korea, city transportation is also relatively cheap and you can receive transfer discounts, making it very economical. In particular, large cities such as the metropolitan area or metropolitan cities have various routes and frequent departures, making it even more convenient to use public transportation.
The subway system in Korea is an efficient and well-developed public transportation system, operating in major cities such as Seoul, Busan, Daegu, Incheon, Gwangju, and Daejeon. In particular, the Seoul subway, centered around the metropolitan area, is one of the largest and most convenient in the world, and is very popular with travelers from all over the world.
The subway in Korea operates on a very punctual schedule and allows easy transfers between different lines. This is why the subway is an essential form of public transportation in Korea. In addition, there are signs in Korean, English, Japanese, and Chinese at each subway station, making it easy for foreigners to use. The fare varies by line, but is usually around 1,500 won, and for special lines, around 3,000 won.
The bus system in Korea is a very important means of public transportation along with the subway. Major cities in Korea have a well-developed bus network, so you can check the location of buses in real time. In particular, the metropolitan area is more convenient because there are various types of buses in operation.
The types of city buses vary slightly by region, but there are mainly regular buses, village buses, and metropolitan buses. The length of the route and the fare vary depending on the type of bus.
| Bus type | function | charge |
| Regular bus | A typical city bus | 1500 won |
| Village bus | Short distance travel | 1200 won |
| Metropolitan bus | Nearby cities, long distance travel | 3000 won |
When using public transportation in Korea, you need a transportation card. And if you use a transportation card, you can receive a transfer discount, so you can save money and increase convenience. We recommend using the T-money transportation card. The T-money transportation card is rechargeable and can be purchased and recharged at convenience stores.
When transferring, it is important to tag your transportation card on the terminal not only when boarding a bus or subway, but also when getting off. And you must tag it on another means of transportation within 30 minutes of tagging to apply the transfer discount. For detailed information on transfers and transportation cards, please refer to the article below.
Taxis are also very convenient to use in Korea. With the activation of apps like Kakao T, you can call a taxi anytime and anywhere, and if you register a payment method, you can automatically pay the fare. Foreigners can also use this function through Kakao T if they have Kakao ID.
There are some things to keep in mind when using a taxi in Korea. In large cities like Seoul or Busan, there are many congested areas, so using public transportation like the subway can be faster than taking a taxi. Therefore, we recommend using a map app to check the travel time before taking a taxi. Also, there is a surcharge for going to other cities or at night, so the fare is more expensive. If you consider these factors, you can use a taxi more economically. For more information about how to use Kakao T and Korean taxis, please refer to the article below.
In Korea, there is an active sharing economy system where you can rent transportation such as bicycles, kickboards, and rental cars. In particular, rental transportation such as bicycles and kickboards can be useful for short distances or when public transportation is difficult to use, and they are also gaining attention as an eco-friendly means of transportation.
Bicycles and kickboards are the most active rental transportation. Not only in Seoul and the metropolitan area, but also in local cities, many operators are operating rental businesses. The advantage of rental transportation such as bicycles and kickboards is the convenient rental and return. You can use them easily by scanning the QR code of the bicycle through the app even if the rental and return locations are different. The table below summarizes the apps that foreigners can use.
| App name | Available Areas | Rental items | charge |
| Ttareungi | seoul | bicycle | 1000 won per hour |
| GCOO | Some areas nationwide | Electric bicycle, kickboard | Basic rate + per minute rate, distance priority rate |
| Kakao T | Some areas nationwide | General, electric bicycle | Basic rate + per minute rate |
In terms of fares, Ttareungi operated by Seoul City is the cheapest. GCOO and Kakao T are more expensive than Ttareungi. It varies slightly depending on various factors such as region and rate system, but the basic fee is around 1,000 won and you will pay around 10,000 won for 1 hour. However, since the basic fee is not added when returning and renting multiple times within a certain period of time, it can be used as an economical means of transportation if used appropriately. You can check detailed information about bicycle and kickboard rental apps in the article below.
To rent a car in Korea, you must have an International Driving Permit (IDP). For foreigners, we recommend booking a car rental on the KLOOK travel site. It is easy to access because you can pick up the car at train stations, bus terminals, subway stations, etc. in many cities. Please note that the rental conditions may vary depending on the rental company, so please check before making a reservation. You can check the detailed explanation of car rental in the article below.