Seoul Subway | |
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Info | |
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Locale | Seoul, South Korea Incheon, Gyeonggi-do, Chungcheongnam-do |
Transit type | Rapid transit |
Number of lines | 10 |
Number of stations | 266 |
Operation | |
Began operation | 1974 |
Owner | Seoul Metropolitan City Government Korea Rail Network Authority |
Operator(s) | Seoul Metro Korail SMRT |
Technical | |
System length | 287 km (179.4 mi) |
Track gauge | 1,435 mm (4 ft 8½ in) |
The Seoul Metropolitan Subway is one of the most heavily used rapid transit systems in the world, with well over 8 million trips daily on the system's ten lines (total figures for Seoul Metro, Seoul Metropolitan Rapid Transit Corporation & Korean Railroad commuter lines). The system serves Seoul, Incheon, Gyeonggi province and northern Chungnam province and connects with the single-line Incheon Subway system. There is a connection (not a free transfer) to the Incheon International Airport Railroad (A'REX) at Gimpo Airport Station on Line 5. Over 70% of the total metro track length is underground.
The Seoul Subway is considered user friendly for non-Koreans since all directional signs are written in both Korean and English, and the voice announcement in the trains indicating the upcoming station, possible line transfer and exiting side are all said in Korean, followed by English. However Line 2 (Green Line) has additional side lines and at times passengers will be told to exit the train and board the following train instead. These broadcasts are in Korean only and therefore do lead to confusion for foreign travelers. Station signs and some maps also display traditional Chinese.
Contents |
The subway is operated by three different organisations:
The operators for lines currently under construction (see below) are as follows:
The subway lines and their operators and colours are as follows:
Color | Name/Number | Korean name | Start | End | Operator |
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dark blue | Line 1 | 수도권 전철 1호선 | Soyosan(소요산) | Incheon(인천), Cheonan(천안) or Gwangmyeong(광명) | Korail (Soyosan(소요산)-Hoegi(회기), Namyeong(남영)-Cheonan(천안), Guro(구로)-Incheon(인천), Siheung(시흥)-Gwangmyeong(광명))/ Seoul Metro (Seoul Station(서울역)-Cheongnyangni(청량리)) |
green | Line 2 | 서울 지하철 2호선 | City Hall(시청), Seongsu(성수), Sindorim(신도림) |
City Hall(시청), Sinseol-dong(신설동) or Kkachisan(까치산) |
Seoul Metro (except Kkachisan(까치산), run by SMRT.) |
orange | Line 3 | 수도권 전철 3호선 | Daehwa(대화) | Suseo(수서) | Seoul Metro (Jichuk(지축)-Suseo(수서)) / Korail (Jichuk(지축)-Daehwa(대화)) |
blue | Line 4 | 수도권 전철 4호선 | Danggogae(당고개) | Oido(오이도) | Seoul Metro (Danggogae(당고개)-Namtaeryeong(남태령)) / Korail (Seonbawi(선바위)-Oido(오이도)) |
purple | Line 5 | 서울 지하철 5호선 | Banghwa(방화) | Sangil-dong(상일동) or Macheon(마천) | SMRT |
brown | Line 6 | 서울 지하철 6호선 | Eungam(응암) | Bonghwasan(봉화산) | SMRT |
olive | Line 7 | 서울 지하철 7호선 | Jangam(장암) | Onsu(온수) | SMRT |
pink | Line 8 | 서울 지하철 8호선 | Amsa(암사) | Moran(모란) | SMRT |
yellow | Bundang Line | 분당선 K2 |
Seolleung(선릉) | Bojeong(보정) | Korail |
aqua | Jungang Line | 중앙선 K1 |
Yongsan(용산) | Paldang(팔당) | Korail |
The Korail, the forerunner of the Seoul Metro, began operating Line 1 in 1974. Lines 2, 3, and 4 followed in the late 1970s and 1980s. The SMRT was formed in 1994 to take over operation of lines 5 to 8.
Ticket prices start at 1,000 won for a trip up to 10km (6 miles), with 100 won added for each 5km (3 miles) after that. Half-price children's tickets are available. Riders may also enter the system using a transportation card such as T-money, Upass, and KB Free Pass. There is a 100 won discount for using a transportation card. The city government also uses Seoul Citypass as a transportation card. Senior citizens and disabled people qualify for free transit and can get a free ticket or enter and exit using side gates rather than turnstiles.
Two new subway lines are currently under construction and have yet to open:
Several existing lines are also currently undergoing extension:
There are several major works still in the planning stage:
For more details on new projects, see [8] (in Korean)
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