Seoul Metropolitan Subway

Seoul Metropolitan Subway
Background
Owner	Seoul Special City, Korea Rail Network Authority, Incheon Metropolitan City, Uijeongbu City, Yongin City
Locale	Seoul, South Korea Incheon, Gyeonggi-do, Chungcheongnam-do, Gangwon-do
Transit type	Rapid transit
Number of lines	19
Number of stations	615 total 519 metro stations or 442 with transfer stations counted as one
Daily ridership	9.8 million (2012)
Annual ridership	3,587 million (2012)[1]
Operation
Began operation	August 15, 1974
Operator(s)	Seoul Metro, Seoul Metropolitan Rapid Transit Corporation, Korail, Incheon Transit Corporation, and private rapid transit operators
Technical
System length	981.5 km (609.9 mi) 720 km (450 mi) of rapid transit serviced lines
Track gauge	1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in)
System map

The Seoul Metropolitan Subway is the world's most extensive subway system by length. It is also the world's largest subway by number of stations and the world's most highly used subway consisting of 19 lines that serve the Seoul Metropolitan Area, the world's second largest metropolitan area after Tokyo with over 25 million people.^[2]

The system is rated the world's best subway system by Jalopnik,^[3] nicknamed "super highway" by the BBC.^[4] It is notable for its cleanliness and ease of use. Seoul Subway introduced the world's first commercially used contactless smart card called Upass and advanced technology such as 4G LTE, WiFi, DMB, and WiBro accessible in all stations and moving subway cars. Most trains have digital TV screens, and all of them have air conditioning and climate controlled seats installed that are automatically heated in the winter. All Seoul Metro, SMRT, Line 9,^[5] AREX, Sinbundang Line and U Line stations have screen doors installed along with major stations operated by Korail and Incheon Transit.^[6] Since 2010, all Seoul Metro stations feature the world's largest digital signage service,^[7] which are smartphone-like 46" touchscreen kiosk stands called Digital View provided by Daum that have many apps such as maps having a Google Street View-like feature, tourist guides, and free phone calls. The world's first virtual mart for smartphone users opened at Seolleung Station in 2011.^[8]

All lines use the T-money smart payment system utilizing RFID and NFC technology for automatic payment by T-money smart cards, smartphones, or credit cards and one can transfer to any of the other line within the system for free.^[9]

Real-time subway arrival times are available for all lines provided through giant LCD screens at all stations, along with apps for smartphones. All directional signs in the system are written in both Korean and English. Station signs and some maps also display Hanja. In the trains, the prerecorded voice announcement that states the upcoming station, any possible line transfer, and the exiting side are all in Korean, followed by those in English. On major stations, this is also followed by the announcement in Japanese, then in Mandarin Chinese.

Lines & Channels

Gimpo International Airport Station on Seoul Subway Line 9 and AREX.

Pangyo Station on Sinbundang Line.

Jeongja Station on Sinbundang Line.

Sindap Station on Seoul Subway Line 2.

National Police Hospital Station on Seoul Subway Line 3.

Dongdaemun History & Culture Park Station on Seoul Subway Line 5.

While technical definitions of a subway, metro or rapid transit vary from country to country, applying the definitions from the International Association of Public Transport,^[10] American Public Transportation Association,^[11] U.S. Department of Transportation,^[12] and the Transport Research Laboratory,^[13] the following sections of the Seoul Metropolitan Subway fully meet the criteria set in the sources:

• Seoul Subway Line 1 (174 km / 91 stations): Dongducheon-Cheonan,^[14] Guro-Incheon and Byeongjeom-Seodongtan
• Seoul Subway Lines 2-9 (378.3 km / 324 stations)
• Bundang, Sinbundang and Suin Lines and Incheon Subway Line 1 (112.7 km / 80 stations)
• AREX (9.5 km / 4 stations): Digital Media City-Seoul Station^[15]
• Gyeongui Line (45.5 km / 20 stations): Digital Media City-Gongdeok,^[16] Susaek-Munsan^[17]

The length of the metro sections of the Seoul Metropolitan Subway total out at 720 km with 442 stations (with transfer stations counted as one).

History

• August 15, 1974: Opening of Seoul Subway Line 1, operating from Seongbuk Station to Incheon Station and Suwon Station.
• December 9, 1978: Yongsan - Cheongnyangni line was added to Line 1. Now part of Jungang Line.
• October 10, 1980: Opening of Seoul Subway Line 2.
• 1985: Fare system changed from charging by distance to zone, Edmondson railway ticket changed to magnetic paper ticket.
• April 20, 1985: Opening of Seoul Subway Line 4.
• July 12, 1985: Opening of Seoul Subway Line 3.
• April 1, 1994: Opening of Indeogwon - Namtaeryeong extension of Seoul Subway Line 4.
• September 1, 1994: Opening of Bundang Line, operating from Suseo Station to Ori Station.
• November 15, 1995: Opening of Seoul Subway Line 5.
• January 30, 1996: Opening of Jichuk - Daehwa extension of Seoul Subway Line 3.
• March 20, 1996: Opening of Kkachisan - Sindorim extension of Seoul Subway Line 2.
• October 11, 1996: Opening of Seoul Subway Line 7.
• November 23, 1996: Opening of Seoul Subway Line 8.
• October 6, 1999: Opening of Incheon Subway Line 1.
• August 7, 2000: Opening of Seoul Subway Line 6.
• 2004: Fare system changed back to charging by distance. Free transfers with buses introduced.
• January 20, 2005: Opening of Byeongjeom - Cheonan extension of Seoul Subway Line 1.
• December 16, 2005: Opening of Jungang Line, operating from Yongsan Station to Deokso Station.
• December 15, 2006: Opening of Uijeongbu - Soyosan extension of Seoul Subway Line 1. Subway cars from Yongsan Station to Gwangmyeong Station begin operating. Now reduced to Yeongdeungpo - Gwangmyeong.
• March 23, 2007: Opening of AREX.
• December 27, 2007: Opening of Deokso - Paldang extension of Jungang Line.
• December 15, 2008: Opening of Cheonan - Sinchang extension of Seoul Subway Line 1.
• May 1, 2009: Magnetic paper ticket changed to RFID based public transportation card.
• July 1, 2009: Opening of Gyeongui Line, operating from Seoul Station to Munsan Station.
• July 24, 2009: Opening of Seoul Subway Line 9, operating from Gaehwa Station to Sinnonhyeon Station.
• February 26, 2010: Opening of Byeongjeom - Seodongtan extension of Seoul Subway Line 1.
• December 21, 2010: Opening of Gyeongchun Line.
• October 28, 2011: Opening of Sinbundang Line, operating from Gangnam Station to Jeongja Station.
• June 30, 2012: Opening of Suin Line, operating from Oido Station to Songdo Station.
• July 1, 2012: Opening of U Line.
• December 15, 2012: Opening of Gongdeok - Gajwa extension of Gyeongui Line.
• April 26, 2013: Opening of EverLine.

Rolling stock

Fares and ticketing

T-money smart card

The current single-use ticket is a credit card-sized plastic card with RFID technology, which are obtained from automated machines in every subway station. A 500 won deposit fee is included in the price, and is refunded when the ticket is returned at any station. Multiple use cards are sold in convenience stores or can be integrated with certain debit cards.

From February 2012, ticket prices are currently 1,050 won for a trip up to 10 km, with 100 won added for each subsequent 5 km.^[18] Prices for Sinbundang Line start at 1,750 won, while EverLine and U Line cost 1,300 won. From 2014, Sinbundang Line prices will begin at 1,950 won, while EverLine and U Line will introduce free transfers to other lines and buses. Half-priced 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.

Current construction

Opening 2014

• AREX will open Cheongna Int'l City Station in April 2014.^[19]
• The Incheon Airport Maglev will run from Incheon International Airport Station to Yongyu Station in July 2014.^[20]
• Gyeongui Line will open Gangmae Station in July 2014.
• Remodeling of Line 1's Sindorim Station will complete on 4th September 2014.^[21]
• Underground transfer tunnel between Line 1 and Line 9 at Noryangjin Station will open "in the latter half of 2014".^[22]
• Line 9 will be extended from Sinnonhyeon to Sports Complex along with the opening of Magongnaru Station by December 2014.^[23][24]
• Gyeongui Line will open from Gongdeok to Yongsan Station, thereby connecting with the Jungang Line as a single line in December 2014.^[25]
• Suin Line is scheduled to open Dalwol Station in December 2014.
• AREX is scheduled to open Yeongjeong Station in December 2014.
• Underground transfer tunnel between Line 1/4 and AREX at Seoul Station will open on December 2014.^[26]

Opening 2015

• Incheon Subway Line 2 is planned to open with 27 stations over 29.3 km from Oryu dong in Seo-gu to Incheon Grand Park.^[27] The line been under construction since June 26, 2009 and was planned to open in August 2014,^[28] but was pushed back to July 2015.^[29] It will intersect Line 1 at Incheon City Hall Station, Korail Line 1 at Juan Station, and AREX at Geomam Station.
• The Yeoju Line will be an 11-station line in Gyeonggi-do that will intersect both the Sinbundang Line and Bundang Line as it heads east.
• Wonheung Station will open in Line 3 between Samsong and Wondang in mid 2015.
• Gyeongui Line will open Yadang between Unjeong and Tanhyeon in October 2015.
• The Suin Line will open in Phase 2, which is an extension from Songdo Station to Incheon Station.

Opening 2016+

• Sinbundang Line's Phase 2 (2016) will extend the southern end of the line by five stops with four additional proposed stops.^[30]
• A Light Rapid Transit line named Ui LRT will be a 11.4 km (7.1 mi) line from Ui-dong to Sinseol Dong in northern Seoul.^[31] The line is expected to carry 110,000 passengers per day, and will have 12 stations. It will connect to Line 4 at Sungshin Women's University, Line 6 at Bomun, and Line 1 & Line 2 at Sinseol Dong.^[32]
• The Sosa–Wonsi Line is a 12-station line in southwestern Seoul with transfers to Line 1 and Line 4. Opening is set for April 2016.
• Line 9 is being extended eastward to Korea Veteran's Hospital Station by 2016.
• The Suin Line will open in Phase 3 after 2017, which is an extension from Suwon Station to Hanyang University at Ansan Station, where it will connect with the Bundang Line as a single line.

Planned construction

There are several major works that are either still in the planning stage or are waiting for construction to commence.

• (2014 ~ 2017) Line 8 will be extended north by 11.37 km to intersect Guri Station and Byeolnae Station on the Gyeongchun Line.^[33]
• The northern end of Line 4 will be extended by three stations from Danggogae to Jinjeop, Namyangju. Construction will begin in 2015, with the expected completion date in 2019.^[34]
• (2013 ~ 2022) Sin Ansan Line will connect Ansan, Siheung, Seoul Station, and Cheongnyangni Station. At its terminus at Cheongnyangni, the line will be connected to a new light rail line called Myeonmok Light Rail Line.^{[citation needed]}
• An interchange station of Line 2, Line 5, Jungang Line, Bundang Line, and Dongbuk Light Rail Line is planned from Wangsimni Station.^[35]
• Incheon Line 3 is planned to be a semicircular subway line of Incheon. It will intersect Seoul Subway Line 1 at Dowon Station and Dongmak Station at Incheon Subway Line 1, as well as at the future Incheon Subway Line 2.^[36]
• Myeonmokseon LRT (면목선 경전철) is a planned 12-station, 9.05 km line from Cheongnyangni Station to the future Sinnae Station. Customers will be able to transfer to Seoul Subway Lines 1, 6, 7, and the Gyeongchun Line. The cost is estimated at 855.9 billion Won. Construction is scheduled to begin at the end of 2013 and end in 2018.^[37][38]
• Line 7 will get two more stations to the west to link up to Incheon Line 2. The 3.94 km extension is due for completion in 2018.^[39] Construction will commence in 2013.
• Gimpo City will have its own subway line (김포도시철도) stretching 23.61 km over 9 stations. Completion target is the end of 2018.^{[citation needed]}
• Incheon Line 1 will get one more station to Songdo Landmark City 0.84 km beyond International Business District Station. Construction is planned to start in 2013 and be completed the end of 2018.^[39]
• EverLine might get a 6.8 km extension from Gugal station to the future Gwanggyo Station on the Sinbundang Line.^[40]
• Several Light Rapid Transit lines are under various forms of construction.^{[citation needed]}

See also

• Incheon Subway
• Pyongyang Metro
• List of Korea-related topics
• List of metro systems
• List of urban rail systems by length
• Seoul Metropolitan Subway stations
• Top 10 metro systems in terms of annual passenger rides
• Top 10 metro systems in terms of number of stations
• Transportation in South Korea

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Seoul Subway (category)

• Official Homepages
  • Korail
  • Seoul Metro
  • Seoul Metropolitan Rapid Transit Corporation
  • SinBundang Line
  • Cyber Station - Map, station and route finder
• City Government
  • The Seoul Underground Subway: Official Seoul Tourism
  • English-language WMV video describing Seoul Subway history, current construction and future projects

v t e Rapid transit in South Korea Seoul Capital Area Urban Rail Seoul ● Line 1 ● Line 2 ● Line 3 ● Line 4 ● Line 5 ● Line 6 ● Line 7 ● Line 8 ● Line 9 Incheon ● Line 1 ○ Line 2 (u/c) Metropolitan Rail ● Line 1 [Korail] ● Line 3 [Korail] ● Line 4 [Korail] ● Jungang Line [K1] ● Bundang Line [K2] ● Gyeongui Line [K3] ● Gyeongchun Line [P1] ● Suin Line [K2] ● AREX ● Sinbundang Line [DX Line] ○ Yeoju Line (u/c) ○ Sosa–Wonsi Line (u/c) Light Metro Rail ● U Line ● Everline ● Incheon Airport Maglev (u/c) ○ Ui Line (u/c) ○ Gimpo Subway Line (u/c) Busan Urban Rail ● Line 1 ● Line 2 ● Line 3 ● Line 4 Light Metro Rail ● Busan–Gimhae LRT Daegu ● Line 1 ● Line 2 ● Line 3 (u/c) Daejeon ● Line 1 Gwangju ● Line 1