Seoul Metropolitan Subway
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The Seoul Metropolitan Subway is a metropolitan railway system consisting of 23
rapid transit Rapid transit or mass rapid transit (MRT), also known as heavy rail or metro, is a type of high-capacity public transport generally found in urban areas. A rapid transit system that primarily or traditionally runs below the surface may be ...
,
light metro A medium-capacity system (MCS), also known as light rapid transit or light metro, is a rail transport system with a capacity greater than light rail, but less than typical heavy-rail rapid transit. MCS’s trains are usually 1-4 cars, or 1 lig ...
,
commuter rail Commuter rail, or suburban rail, is a passenger rail transport service that primarily operates within a metropolitan area, connecting Commuting, commuters to a Downtown, central city from adjacent suburbs or commuter towns. Generally commuter r ...
and
people mover A people mover or automated people mover (APM) is a type of small scale automated guideway transit system. The term is generally used only to describe systems serving relatively small areas such as airports, downtown districts or theme parks. ...
lines located in northwest
South Korea South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea (ROK), is a country in East Asia, constituting the southern part of the Korean Peninsula and sharing a land border with North Korea. Its western border is formed by the Yellow Sea, while its eas ...
. The system serves most of the
Seoul Metropolitan Area The Seoul Capital Area (SCA), Sudogwon (, ) or Gyeonggi region (), is the metropolitan area of Seoul, Incheon, and Gyeonggi Province, located in north-west South Korea. Its population of 26 million (as of 2020) is ranked as the fifth largest m ...
including the Incheon metropolis and satellite cities in
Gyeonggi province Gyeonggi-do (, ) is the most populous province in South Korea. Its name, ''Gyeonggi'', means "京 (the capital) and 畿 (the surrounding area)". Thus, ''Gyeonggi-do'' can be translated as "Seoul and the surrounding areas of Seoul". Seoul, the na ...
. Some
regional In geography, regions, otherwise referred to as zones, lands or territories, are areas that are broadly divided by physical characteristics (physical geography), human impact characteristics (human geography), and the interaction of humanity and t ...
lines in the network stretch out beyond the Seoul Metropolitan Area to rural areas in northern
Chungnam province South Chungcheong Province ( ko, 충청남도, ''Chungcheongnam-do''), also known as Chungnam, is a province of South Korea. South Chungcheong has a population of 2,059,871 (2014) and has a geographic area of 8,204 km2 (3,168 sq mi) located in ...
and western Gangwon province, that lie over 100 km away from the capital. The network consists of multiple systems that form a larger, coherent system. These being the Seoul Metro proper, consisting of Seoul Metro lines 1 through 9 and certain light rail lines, that serves
Seoul Seoul (; ; ), officially known as the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea.Before 1972, Seoul was the ''de jure'' capital of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea) as stated iArticle 103 ...
city proper and its surroundings; Korail regional rail lines, which serve the greater metropolitan region and beyond;
Incheon Metro The Incheon Subway () is a subway system serving the South Korean city of Incheon. The system is operated by Incheon Transit Corporation, and is part of the greater Seoul Metropolitan Subway. Lines Line 1 Line 1 is a north-south subw ...
lines, operated by
Incheon Transit Corporation Incheon Transit Corporation (인천교통공사), formerly known as Incheon Rapid Transit Corporation (인천지하철공사) currently operates the Incheon Subway, Wolmi Sea Train, Incheon Bus information, Incheon Bus Terminal, Call taxi for ...
, that serve Incheon city proper; and miscellaneous light rail lines, such as
Gimpo Goldline The Gimpo Goldline ( or ) is a light metro line opened on 28 September 2019. Background Under the third mayor of Gimpo City, Kim Dongsik (김동식), the line was going to be an extension of Line 5. This idea was rejected by Seoul Metropolitan ...
and Yongin Everline, that connect corners of their respective cities to the rest of the network. Most of the system is operated by three companies –
Seoul Metro Seoul Transportation Corporation, branded as Seoul Metro (Hangul: ), is a municipal-owned corporation owned by Seoul Metropolitan Government, and one of the two major operators of Seoul Metropolitan Subway with Korail. History * May 31, 2017 ...
, Korail (Korea Railroad Corporation), and
Incheon Metro The Incheon Subway () is a subway system serving the South Korean city of Incheon. The system is operated by Incheon Transit Corporation, and is part of the greater Seoul Metropolitan Subway. Lines Line 1 Line 1 is a north-south subw ...
- with the rest being operated by an assortment of local municipal corporations and private rail companies. Its first metro line, Line 1, started construction in 1971 and began operations in 1974, with through-operation to Korail's suburban railways. As of 2022, the network has of track on lines 1–9 alone.


Overview

The first line of the Seoul Subway network started construction in 1971. The first section of subway was built using the cheaper
cut and cover A tunnel is an underground passageway, dug through surrounding soil, earth or rock, and enclosed except for the entrance and exit, commonly at each end. A pipeline is not a tunnel, though some recent tunnels have used immersed tube cons ...
construction method. Initial lines relied heavily on Japanese technology, and subsequent lines procured technological imports from Japan and the United Kingdom. For example, Line 1 opened in 1974 with
through services A through service is a concept of passenger transport that involves a vehicle travelling between lines, networks or operators on a regularly specified schedule, on which the passenger can remain on board without alighting. It may be in form of eith ...
joining surrounding Korail suburban railway lines influenced by the
Tokyo subway The is a part of the extensive rapid transit system that consists of Tokyo Metro and the Toei Subway in Tokyo, Saitama, Chiba, the Greater Tokyo area of Japan. While the subway system itself is largely within the city center, the lines exten ...
. Today, many of the Seoul Metropolitan Subway's lines are operated by Korail, South Korea's national rail operator. It has been described as the world's longest multi-operator metro system by route length. The subway has free
WiFi Wi-Fi () is a family of wireless network protocols, based on the IEEE 802.11 family of standards, which are commonly used for local area networking of devices and Internet access, allowing nearby digital devices to exchange data by radio wa ...
accessible in all stations and trains. Nearly all stations have platform screen doors installed; only some minor Korail-operated stations remain with open platforms. By 2017, Korail will completely install screen doors in every station and platform. The world's first virtual mart for
smartphone A smartphone is a portable computer device that combines mobile telephone and computing functions into one unit. They are distinguished from feature phones by their stronger hardware capabilities and extensive mobile operating systems, whic ...
users opened at Seolleung station in 2011. All directional signs in the system are written in
Korean Korean may refer to: People and culture * Koreans, ethnic group originating in the Korean Peninsula * Korean cuisine * Korean culture * Korean language **Korean alphabet, known as Hangul or Chosŏn'gŭl **Korean dialects and the Jeju language ** ...
using
Hangul The Korean alphabet, known as Hangul, . Hangul may also be written as following South Korea's standard Romanization. ( ) in South Korea and Chosŏn'gŭl in North Korea, is the modern official writing system for the Korean language. The le ...
, as well as English and
Katakana is a Japanese syllabary, one component of the Japanese writing system along with hiragana, kanji and in some cases the Latin script (known as rōmaji). The word ''katakana'' means "fragmentary kana", as the katakana characters are derived f ...
/
Chinese characters Chinese characters () are logograms developed for the writing of Chinese. In addition, they have been adapted to write other East Asian languages, and remain a key component of the Japanese writing system where they are known as ''kanji ...
for Japanese and Mandarin Chinese. In trains there are in addition many LCD screens giving service announcements, upcoming stop names,
YTN YTN () is the first 24-hour Korean news channel to be broadcast throughout South Korea. It was founded on September 14, 1993, and began broadcasting on March 1, 1995. YTN originally stands for ''Yonhap Television News'', as the channel was the s ...
news, stock prices and animated shorts. There are also prerecorded voice announcements that give the upcoming station, any possible line transfer, and the exiting side in Korean, followed by English. At major stations, this is followed by
Japanese Japanese may refer to: * Something from or related to Japan, an island country in East Asia * Japanese language, spoken mainly in Japan * Japanese people, the ethnic group that identifies with Japan through ancestry or culture ** Japanese diaspor ...
, then
Mandarin Chinese Mandarin (; ) is a group of Chinese (Sinitic) dialects that are natively spoken across most of northern and southwestern China. The group includes the Beijing dialect, the basis of the phonology of Standard Chinese, the official language ...
, as well. Seoul Subway uses full-color LCD screens at all stations to display real-time subway arrival times, which are also available on apps for smartphones. 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. In 2014, it became the world's first metro operator to use transparent displays for ads when it installed 48 transparent displays on major stations of Line 2 in
Gangnam District Gangnam District ( ; , ) is one of the 25 local government districts which make up the city of Seoul, South Korea. Gangnam translates to "South of the ( Han) River". Gangnam District is the third largest district in Seoul, with an area of . ...
. All lines use the T-money smart payment system using RFID and
NFC NFC may refer to: Psychology * Need for cognition, in psychology * Need for closure, social psychological term Sports * NFC Championship Game, the National Football Conference Championship Game * NCAA Football Championship (Philippines) * Nati ...
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.With the exception of
AREX AREX (Airport Railroad Express) is a South Korean commuter rail line that links Incheon International Airport with Seoul Station via Gimpo International Airport. The section between the two airports opened on March 23, 2007, and line was exten ...
on
Yeongjong Island Yeongjong Island is an island off the west coast of the city of Incheon, South Korea, which contains Incheon International Airport as well as small villages, farms, and beaches. The previously separate Yongyu, Sammok, and Sinbul Islands have ...
(extra charge applied depending on distance) and
Shinbundang Line The Shinbundang Line (aka ''Sinbundang Line''; ; literally, ''New Bundang Line'') or DX Line for Dynamic Express Line is a long line of the Seoul Metropolitan Subway. It is the world's fifth subway to run completely driverless and the second com ...
(extra charge of 500~1900 KRW depending on the sections used).
EverLine EverLine is a fully automated driverless people mover line in Yongin, Seoul Capital Area connecting Everland, South Korea's most popular theme park, to Bundang Line of the Seoul Metropolitan Subway. The system is identical to AirTrain JFK peopl ...
and
U Line The U Line is a driverless, fully automatic, grade-separated light rail or light metro line in Uijeongbu, Seoul Capital Area, South Korea. The "U" is short for the city Uijeongbu. The line uses Véhicule Automatique Léger (VAL) 208 trains buil ...
will allow free transfers from 2014.
Trains on numbered lines and light rail lines generally run on the right-hand track, while trains on the named heavy-rail lines (e.g.
Shinbundang Line The Shinbundang Line (aka ''Sinbundang Line''; ; literally, ''New Bundang Line'') or DX Line for Dynamic Express Line is a long line of the Seoul Metropolitan Subway. It is the world's fifth subway to run completely driverless and the second com ...
,
Bundang Line The Bundang Line or Seoul Metropolitan Subway Bundang Line (Sudogwon Jeoncheol Bundangseon 수도권 전철 분당선) was a commuter rail line of the Seoul Metropolitan Subway in the Seoul Capital Area operated by Korail. Also it refers physical ...
, and
AREX AREX (Airport Railroad Express) is a South Korean commuter rail line that links Incheon International Airport with Seoul Station via Gimpo International Airport. The section between the two airports opened on March 23, 2007, and line was exten ...
) run on the left-hand track. The exceptions are the trains on Line 1, as well as those on Line 4 south of
Namtaeryeong station Namtaeryeong Station is a station on Seoul Subway Line 4. It is operated by Seoul Metro. The name of this station literally means "great southern pass," referring to a passageway linking Seoul and Gwacheon, between Mt. Gwanak and Mt. Umyeon. Act ...
. These lines run on the left-hand track because these rail lines are government-owned or through-run to government own lines and follow a different standard to the metro, one that is followed by all national rail lines with the exception of the
Ilsan Line Ilsan Line is a Rapid transit in South Korea, subway line operated by Korail, in Seoul, South Korea. Trains from this line continue to and from Seoul Metro's Seoul Subway Line 3, Line 3. History The line started construction on March 15, 1991 a ...
.


History

Line 1, from
Seongbuk station Kwangwoon University station (formerly Seongbuk station) is a train station on Seoul Subway Line 1, Gyeongchun Line and Gyeongwon Line in Seoul, South Korea operated by Korail. Together with Incheon station and Suwon station, this station was one ...
to Incheon station and Suwon station, opened on 15 August 1974. On 9 December 1978, the
Yongsan Yongsan District (, ) is one of the 25 districts of Seoul, South Korea. Yongsan has a population of 231,685 (2020) and has a geographic area of , and is divided into 19 '' dong'' (administrative neighborhoods). Yongsan is located in central Seoul ...
- Cheongnyangni line via Wangsipni (now part of the Jungang Line) was added to Line 1. Line 2 opened on 10 October 1980. In 1985, the fare system changed from charging by distance to zone and the
Edmondson railway ticket The Edmondson railway ticket was a system for recording the payment of railway fares and accounting for the revenue raised, introduced in the 1840s.Farr, M (1997). "Edmondson, Thomas". In: Simmonds and Biddle (1997), Page 141 It is named after ...
changed to a magnetic paper ticket. Line 4 opened on 20 April 1985, and Line 3 on 12 July. On 1 April 1994, the Indeogwon- Namtaeryeong extension of Line 4 opened. The
Bundang Line The Bundang Line or Seoul Metropolitan Subway Bundang Line (Sudogwon Jeoncheol Bundangseon 수도권 전철 분당선) was a commuter rail line of the Seoul Metropolitan Subway in the Seoul Capital Area operated by Korail. Also it refers physical ...
, from Suseo station to Ori station, opened on 1 September. On 15 November 1995, Line 5 opened. The Jichuk- Daehwa extension of Line 3 opened on 30 January 1996. On 20 March, the Kkachisan- Sindorim extension of Line 2 opened. Line 7 opened on 11 October, and Line 8 on 23 November. On 6 October 1999,
Incheon Subway Line 1 Incheon Subway Line 1 is a north-south subway line, part of the Incheon Subway system. The line is also included as a part of the overall Seoul Metropolitan Subway network; Bupyeong Station has a free transfer with Seoul Subway Line 1, Gyeyang ...
opened.
Seoul Subway Line 6 Seoul Subway Line 6 is a line of the Seoul Metropolitan Subway. The route connects Eunpyeong-gu and Jungnang-gu in a U-shaped manner, running through Yongsan-gu and Seongbuk-gu. It does not cross the Han River. It is mainly used to connect to th ...
opened on 7 August 2000. In 2004 the fare system reverted to charging by distance, and free bus transfers were introduced. The Byeongjeom- Cheonan extension of Line 1 opened on 20 January 2005. On 16 December, the Jungang Line from Yongsan station to Deokso station opened. The
Uijeongbu Uijeongbu () is a city in Gyeonggi Province, South Korea. Overview Uijeongbu is located north of the Korean capital Seoul; it lies inside a defile, with mountains on two sides, and commands a natural choke point across the main traditional in ...
-
Soyosan Soyosan is a mountain in Gyeonggi-do, South Korea. Its area extends across the cities of Pocheon and Dongducheon. It has an elevation of .An 2004, p.328. The mountain is home to two Buddhist shrines commemorating Silla priests Wonhyo and Uisan ...
extension of Line 1 opened and shuttle service from Yongsan station to
Gwangmyeong station Gwangmyeong station () is a train station in Gwangmyeong, South Korea. The station was newly built as a stop of national railway operator Korail's KTX high-speed service, south of Seoul Station. The area surrounding the station is home to the ...
began (with the route now shortened from
Yeongdeungpo Yeongdeungpo District () is an administrative district in southwest Seoul, South Korea. Although the origin of the name is uncertain, the first two syllables are thought to be from "''yeongdeung''" (靈登) or "divine ascent", a shamanic rite. T ...
to Gwangmyeong) on 15 December 2006. On 23 March 2007,
AREX AREX (Airport Railroad Express) is a South Korean commuter rail line that links Incheon International Airport with Seoul Station via Gimpo International Airport. The section between the two airports opened on March 23, 2007, and line was exten ...
opened. The Deokso- Paldang extension of the Jungang Line opened on 27 December. On 15 December 2008, the Cheonan- Sinchang extension of Line 1 opened. The magnetic paper ticket changed to an RFID-based card on 1 May 2009. On 1 July the
Gyeongui Line The Gyeongui Line is a railway line between Seoul Station and Dorasan Station in Paju. Korail operates the Seoul Metropolitan Subway service between Seoul Station and Dorasan Station. History ''For the original line's history and other infor ...
from
Seoul Station Seoul Station is a major railway station in Seoul, the capital of South Korea. The station is served by the Korail Intercity Lines and the commuter trains of the Seoul Metropolitan Subway. Services KTX Seoul Station is the terminus of most ...
to
Munsan station Munsan Station is a railway station on the Gyeongui Line. It is notable for being the closest station on the Seoul Metropolitan Subway to the DMZ (Korea), border with North Korea that is open for passenger service, only a few kilometers away. Se ...
opened, and on 24 July Line 9 from
Gaehwa station Gaehwa Station is the only elevated station and western terminus of Seoul Subway Line 9. It is located near the border of Gimpo. It houses the headquarters of the Seoul Metro Line 9 Corporation. Station layout References Railway stati ...
to
Sinnonhyeon station Sinnonhyeon Station is a railway station on Line 9 and the Shinbundang Line of the Seoul Metropolitan Subway, located by the Kyobo Tower sageori in Nonhyeon-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul. It was the southern terminus of Line 9 from 2009 to March 2015, ...
opened. The Byeongjeom- Seodongtan extension of Line 1 opened on 26 February 2010, and the
Gyeongchun Line The Gyeongchun Line is a regional rail line between Seoul and Chuncheon, South Korea, operated by Korail. Its name is derived from Gyeong (, meaning the capital, Seoul) and ''Chuncheon''. It was completely reconstructed in the 2000s. Service on it ...
opened on 21 December. On 28 October 2011, the
Shinbundang Line The Shinbundang Line (aka ''Sinbundang Line''; ; literally, ''New Bundang Line'') or DX Line for Dynamic Express Line is a long line of the Seoul Metropolitan Subway. It is the world's fifth subway to run completely driverless and the second com ...
from
Gangnam station Gangnam Station is a station located in both the greater Gangnam area Gangnam District and Seocho District of Seoul, South Korea, on the Seoul Subway Line 2. This station serves as a crucial transfer point between Line 2 and buses to all over ...
to
Jeongja station Jeongja (formerly Baekgung station) is a station on the Bundang Line and the Shinbundang Line, an express subway in South Korea. It was the southern terminus of the Shinbundang Line, between October 2011 and January 2016, when the Shinbundang Li ...
opened. The Suin Line, from
Oido station Oido Station is a subway station in Siheung, South Korea. It is the current southwestern terminus of Seoul Subway Line 4 located almost 30 kilometers southwest of Seoul, connecting Oido to other parts of Korea. A commuter rail trip between thi ...
to Songdo station, opened on 30 June 2012. The
U Line The U Line is a driverless, fully automatic, grade-separated light rail or light metro line in Uijeongbu, Seoul Capital Area, South Korea. The "U" is short for the city Uijeongbu. The line uses Véhicule Automatique Léger (VAL) 208 trains buil ...
opened on 1 July, the Onsu- Bupyeong-gu Office extension of Line 7 on 27 October and the Gongdeok- Gajwa extension of the
Gyeongui Line The Gyeongui Line is a railway line between Seoul Station and Dorasan Station in Paju. Korail operates the Seoul Metropolitan Subway service between Seoul Station and Dorasan Station. History ''For the original line's history and other infor ...
on 15 December, and on 26 April, 2013,
EverLine EverLine is a fully automated driverless people mover line in Yongin, Seoul Capital Area connecting Everland, South Korea's most popular theme park, to Bundang Line of the Seoul Metropolitan Subway. The system is identical to AirTrain JFK peopl ...
opened. On 27 December 2014, the
Gyeongui Line The Gyeongui Line is a railway line between Seoul Station and Dorasan Station in Paju. Korail operates the Seoul Metropolitan Subway service between Seoul Station and Dorasan Station. History ''For the original line's history and other infor ...
was extended to
Yongsan Yongsan District (, ) is one of the 25 districts of Seoul, South Korea. Yongsan has a population of 231,685 (2020) and has a geographic area of , and is divided into 19 '' dong'' (administrative neighborhoods). Yongsan is located in central Seoul ...
and started through running to the Jungang Line, forming the Gyeongui·Jungang Line. The Sinnonhyeon-
Sports Complex A sports complex is a group of sports facilities. For example, there are track and field stadiums, football stadiums, baseball stadiums, swimming pools, and Indoor arenas. This area is a sports complex, for fitness. Olympic Park is also a kind ...
extension of Line 9 opened on 28 March 2015. On 30 January 2016 the Jeongja-
Gwanggyo Gwanggyo refers to a planned city surrounding Yeongtong-gu of Suwon and Suji-gu (or Giheung-gu) of Yongin Yongin () is a city in the Seoul Capital Area, the largest in Gyeonggi Province, South Korea. With a population over 1 million, the city h ...
extension of the
Shinbundang Line The Shinbundang Line (aka ''Sinbundang Line''; ; literally, ''New Bundang Line'') or DX Line for Dynamic Express Line is a long line of the Seoul Metropolitan Subway. It is the world's fifth subway to run completely driverless and the second com ...
opened, followed by the Songdo- Incheon extension of the Suin Line on 27 February.
Incheon Subway Line 2 Incheon Subway Line 2 is a 27 station subway line from Oryu-dong in Seo-gu to Incheon Grand Park., part of the Incheon Subway system. The line is also included as a part of the overall Seoul Metropolitan Subway network; Juan station has a fr ...
opened on 30 July, and the
Gyeonggang Line The Gyeonggang Line (경강선) is a rail line in South Korea, which at present comprises two distinct sections. The first one, which opened on September 24, 2016, is part of the Seoul Metropolitan Subway system in Gyeonggi-do, South Korea, and ru ...
on 24 September. The Gyeongui-Jungang Line is extended one station east to
Jipyeong station Jipyeong Station is a station on the Gyeongui-Jungang Line in Gyeonggi-do, South Korea. It is the eastern terminus of the commuter railway, running from Seoul to Yangpyeong County. Mugunghwa-ho trains also stop at this station. It was originally ...
on 21 January 2017, with 4 round trips to Jipyeong station. On 16 June 2018 the Seohae Line opened.
Magongnaru station Magongnaru Station is a railway station on Seoul Subway Line 9 and AREX AREX (Airport Railroad Express) is a South Korean commuter rail line that links Incheon International Airport with Seoul Station via Gimpo International Airport. The sec ...
on Line 9 became an interchange station with AREX on 29 September 2018. Bundang line was extended northeastward to Cheongnyangni station, allowing for connections to the Gyeongchun Line and regional rail services on 31 December 2018. On 28 September 2019, the
Gimpo Goldline The Gimpo Goldline ( or ) is a light metro line opened on 28 September 2019. Background Under the third mayor of Gimpo City, Kim Dongsik (김동식), the line was going to be an extension of Line 5. This idea was rejected by Seoul Metropolitan ...
opened. On 12 September 2020, the Suin Line extension between Hanyang Univ. at Ansan and Suwon, beginning the interlining with Line 4 between
Oido Oido () is an island on the West Coast region of South Korea's Gyeonggi Province (also known as Gyeonggi-do). It is an area of Siheung stretching from north to south with low hills under . Oido has shell mounds throughout the whole area, with ...
and Hanyang Univ. at Ansan, as well as through-running with the
Bundang Line The Bundang Line or Seoul Metropolitan Subway Bundang Line (Sudogwon Jeoncheol Bundangseon 수도권 전철 분당선) was a commuter rail line of the Seoul Metropolitan Subway in the Seoul Capital Area operated by Korail. Also it refers physical ...
to form the Suin–Bundang Line. On May 24 2022, the
Sillim Line The Sillim Line () is a light metro which is part of the Seoul Metropolitan Subway. It opened on May 28, 2022. Stations Main Line Proposed extensions A northern extension towards Dongyeouido (Station name is not determined yet) is currentl ...
opened, becoming the newest addition to the Seoul Metropolitan Subway.


Lines and branches

The system is organized such that numbered lines, with some exceptions, are considered as urban rapid transit lines located within the
Seoul National Capital Area The Seoul Capital Area (SCA), Sudogwon (, ) or Gyeonggi region (), is the metropolitan area of Seoul, Incheon, and Gyeonggi Province, located in north-west South Korea. Its population of 26 million (as of 2020) is ranked as the fifth largest m ...
(SNCA), whereas wide-area commuter lines operated by Korail provide a metro-like commuter rail service that usually extends far beyond the boundaries of the SNCA, rather similar to the RER in
Paris Paris () is the capital and most populous city of France, with an estimated population of 2,165,423 residents in 2019 in an area of more than 105 km² (41 sq mi), making it the 30th most densely populated city in the world in 2020. S ...
. The AREX is an
airport rail link An airport rail link is a service providing passenger rail transport from an airport to a nearby city by mainline or commuter trains, rapid transit, people mover, or light rail. Direct links operate straight to the airport terminal, while ...
that links
Incheon International Airport Incheon International Airport (IIA; ) (sometimes referred to as Seoul–Incheon International Airport) is the largest airport in South Korea. It is the primary airport serving the Seoul Capital Area and one of the largest and busiest airports ...
and
Gimpo Airport Gimpo International Airport (), commonly known as Gimpo Airport , formerly rendered in English as Kimpo International Airport, is located in the far western end of Seoul, some west of the Central District of Seoul. Gimpo was the main interna ...
to central Seoul, and offers both express service directly to Incheon International Airport and all-stop commuter service for people living along the vicinity of the line. While operating hours may vary depending on the line in question, the Seoul Metropolitan Subway generally operates from 5.30 a.m. until 1 a.m. on weekdays, and from 5.30 a.m. until midnight on weekends.


Rolling stock


Fares and ticketing

The Seoul Metropolitan Subway system operates on a unified transportation fare system, meaning that subways and buses in
Seoul Seoul (; ; ), officially known as the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea.Before 1972, Seoul was the ''de jure'' capital of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea) as stated iArticle 103 ...
, Incheon and Gyeonggi-do are treated as one system when it comes to fares. For example, a subway rider can transfer to any other line for free (with the exception of
Shinbundang Line The Shinbundang Line (aka ''Sinbundang Line''; ; literally, ''New Bundang Line'') or DX Line for Dynamic Express Line is a long line of the Seoul Metropolitan Subway. It is the world's fifth subway to run completely driverless and the second com ...
,
EverLine EverLine is a fully automated driverless people mover line in Yongin, Seoul Capital Area connecting Everland, South Korea's most popular theme park, to Bundang Line of the Seoul Metropolitan Subway. The system is identical to AirTrain JFK peopl ...
and
U Line The U Line is a driverless, fully automatic, grade-separated light rail or light metro line in Uijeongbu, Seoul Capital Area, South Korea. The "U" is short for the city Uijeongbu. The line uses Véhicule Automatique Léger (VAL) 208 trains buil ...
, the latter two adding a flat charge of 200 and 300 won respectively). One can also transfer to any Seoul, Incheon, Gyeonggi-do, or some
Chungcheongnam-do South Chungcheong Province ( ko, 충청남도, ''Chungcheongnam-do''), also known as Chungnam, is a province of South Korea. South Chungcheong has a population of 2,059,871 (2014) and has a geographic area of 8,204 km2 (3,168 sq mi) located in ...
city buses for free and get discounted fares on the more expensive express buses. In the case of
Shinbundang Line The Shinbundang Line (aka ''Sinbundang Line''; ; literally, ''New Bundang Line'') or DX Line for Dynamic Express Line is a long line of the Seoul Metropolitan Subway. It is the world's fifth subway to run completely driverless and the second com ...
, charges vary depending on the section used. The Sinsa - Gangnam section always charges 500 won, while the Gangnam - Jeongja section or the Jeongja -
Gwanggyo Gwanggyo refers to a planned city surrounding Yeongtong-gu of Suwon and Suji-gu (or Giheung-gu) of Yongin Yongin () is a city in the Seoul Capital Area, the largest in Gyeonggi Province, South Korea. With a population over 1 million, the city h ...
section charges 1000 won when used alone, and 1400 altogether when used in conjunction with another. In total, the maximum added fee one can be charged is 1900 won, which can be achieved by using all three sections. Fare payments in Seoul are mainly handled by T-money and Cash Bee, which can also be used on buses, convenience stores and many other popular retail places. Riders must touch in a phone, card or other metro card and enabled device at the entry gates. Popular methods of payments are using NFC-enabled Android smartphones (topped up or billed to the owner's credit/debit card via the T-money app) or credit or check (debit) cards with built-in RFID technology issued by the bank or card company. The current single-use ticket is a credit card-sized plastic card with RFID technology, which can be 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 and the functionality is included in many credit/debit cards. Fares (except for single-use tickets) are currently 1,250 won for a trip up to 10 km, with 100 won added for each subsequent 5 km. Once 50 km has been passed, 100 won will be added every 8 km. Single-use ticket users must pay RFID deposit 500 won plus 100 won surcharge to fare. Half-priced children's tickets are available. 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. International travelers can also use a Metropolitan Pass (MPASS) which provides up to 20 trips per day during the prepaid duration of 1 day to 7 days. Depending on where you purchase the card, the service is limited to the Seoul metropolitan area or Jeju Island and does not work in taxis or certain convenience stores.


Current construction


Opening 2023

* Line 1 will be extended north from
Soyosan station Soyosan Station is a ground-level metro station on Line 1 of the Seoul Subway in Sangbongam Dong, Dongducheon, South Korea. It is named after the nearby '' Soyosan'' (587 m), a mountain beside the U.S. Army base Camp Casey. It is on this ...
to Yeoncheon station in May 2023, the existing line between Dongducheon and
Soyosan Soyosan is a mountain in Gyeonggi-do, South Korea. Its area extends across the cities of Pocheon and Dongducheon. It has an elevation of .An 2004, p.328. The mountain is home to two Buddhist shrines commemorating Silla priests Wonhyo and Uisan ...
is to be upgraded and double-tracked. *The Seohae Line will be extended north after March 2023 from
Sosa station Sosa Station is a station on Seoul Subway Line 1 Seoul Metropolitan Subway Line 1 of the Seoul Metropolitan Subway is a rapid transit and commuter rail line which links central Seoul, South Korea to Soyosan Station in the northeast, Inch ...
to Daegok station, with transfers to Line 3 and the Gyeongui-Jungang Line at Daegok. There will also be transfers to Line 5, 9, AREX, and the Gimpo Goldline at
Gimpo International Airport station Gimpo International Airport Station is a subway, railway and light rail station on the Seoul Subway Line 5 and Line 9 and AREX and Gimpo Goldline. True to its name, it serves the nearby Gimpo Airport, the hub of domestic flights in the Seoul met ...
, as well as Line 7 at Bucheon Stadium station. Services will run up to
Ilsan station Ilsan Station is a station on the Gyeongui–Jungang Line. It is the oldest station in the city of Goyang, and the old station – built in 1933, while under Japanese rule – was designated as a national cultural asset in 2006. External links ...
, sharing trackage with
Gyeongui–Jungang Line The Gyeongui–Jungang Line is a commuter rail service of the Seoul Metropolitan Subway system, operating on trackage from the Gyeongui Line (opened on July 1, 2009) and the Jungang Line (opened on December 16, 2005). Frequent service is prov ...
from
Neunggok station Neunggok Station is a station on the Gyeongui-Jungang Line in South Korea. External links Station informationfrom Korail The Korea Railroad Corporation ( Korean: 한국철도공사, Hanja: ), branded as KORAIL (코레일, officially cha ...
to
Ilsan Station Ilsan Station is a station on the Gyeongui–Jungang Line. It is the oldest station in the city of Goyang, and the old station – built in 1933, while under Japanese rule – was designated as a national cultural asset in 2006. External links ...
. The line will also be extended in October 2023 from Wonsi to Seohwaseongnamyang. * Line 8 will be extended north from
Amsa station Amsa station is a railway station on Seoul Subway Line 8 located over both Amsa-dong and Cheonho-dong in Gangdong-gu, Seoul. It is the northern terminus of the line and is approximately 31 minutes by train from Moran Station, the southern termi ...
to
Byeollae station Byeollae station () is a railway station of the Gyeongchun Line that opened in December 2012. It is located at Byeollae-dong, Namyangju-si, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea. The Seoul Subway Line 8 Seoul Subway Line 8 of the Seoul Metropolitan Subway ...
on the
Gyeongchun Line The Gyeongchun Line is a regional rail line between Seoul and Chuncheon, South Korea, operated by Korail. Its name is derived from Gyeong (, meaning the capital, Seoul) and ''Chuncheon''. It was completely reconstructed in the 2000s. Service on it ...
in September 2023, with a transfer to the Gyeongui-Jungang Line at
Guri station Guri station is a train station on the Gyeongui-Jungang Line. It is located in Inchang-dong, Guri, behind GS Square, a large department store in the central city area. Guri station is in Gyeonggi-do, whereas the previous western station, Yangw ...
and also to ByeollaeByeolgaram Station in the future, with a transfer to Line 4 * GTX A will open between Dongtan station and Unjeong station. Great Train eXpress (GTX) is a new type of separate express regional railway which will comprise a network of 3 lines to complement the existing subway network. The first phase of the GTX A Line will ultimately include 11 stations, over 83.3 km.


Opening 2024

*The
Incheon Subway Line 1 Incheon Subway Line 1 is a north-south subway line, part of the Incheon Subway system. The line is also included as a part of the overall Seoul Metropolitan Subway network; Bupyeong Station has a free transfer with Seoul Subway Line 1, Gyeyang ...
will be extended north in December 2024 by 6.8 km, from
Gyeyang station Gyeyang station is the northern terminus of Line 1 of the Incheon Subway. It is also a railway station on the AREX, a railway linking Seoul Station and Incheon International Airport. In 2007, station for Incheon subway line opened and then ARE ...
to Geomdan station, with 3 new stations. Geomdan station is later expected to become a transfer station with the
Gimpo Goldline The Gimpo Goldline ( or ) is a light metro line opened on 28 September 2019. Background Under the third mayor of Gimpo City, Kim Dongsik (김동식), the line was going to be an extension of Line 5. This idea was rejected by Seoul Metropolitan ...
and the
Incheon Subway Line 2 Incheon Subway Line 2 is a 27 station subway line from Oryu-dong in Seo-gu to Incheon Grand Park., part of the Incheon Subway system. The line is also included as a part of the overall Seoul Metropolitan Subway network; Juan station has a fr ...
, for which extensions are in planning. * The
Wirye Line The Wirye Line () is a future tram line in Seoul, South Korea South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea (ROK), is a country in East Asia, constituting the southern part of the Korean Peninsula and sharing a land border with North Korea ...
, another light metro line in southeastern Seoul, will open in 2024 between Macheon station on Line 5 and splitting into two branches: one at
Bokjeong station Bokjeong station is a station on the Seoul Subway Line 8 and Suin-Bundang Line. This station has one of the most sophisticated and convenient transfer systems in the Seoul Metropolitan Subway in which the Suin-Bundang Line platform is direct ...
on Line 8 and Bundang line, and one at Namwirye station, a station on Line 8, with 12 stations planned. While technically part of the subway system, the Wirye Line will actually be a
tram A tram (called a streetcar or trolley in North America) is a rail vehicle that travels on tramway tracks on public urban streets; some include segments on segregated right-of-way. The tramlines or networks operated as public transport are ...
way line.


Opening 2025+

*The Dongbuk Line, a light metro line in northeastern Seoul, is scheduled to open in 2025 with 14 stations between
Wangsimni station Wangsimni Station is a station on Seoul Subway Line 2, Seoul Subway Line 5, Gyeongui–Jungang Line, and Suin-Bundang Line; most Suin-Bundang Line trains end service here, though a few daily services continue along the tracks used by the Gyeo ...
and Eunhaeng Sageori station. *The
Gyeonggang Line The Gyeonggang Line (경강선) is a rail line in South Korea, which at present comprises two distinct sections. The first one, which opened on September 24, 2016, is part of the Seoul Metropolitan Subway system in Gyeonggi-do, South Korea, and ru ...
will be extended to the west, from
Pangyo station Pangyo (Pangyo Techno Valley) Station is a station on the Shinbundang Line, serving the planned city of Pangyo in the city of Seongnam. The station is close to Pangyo Techno Valley, one of the country's largest clusters of software, gaming, ent ...
to Wolgot station by 2026. The extension will be 49.6 km long, and partly share tracks with the Sinansan Line. There will be 11 additional stations to the line, including transfers available at Wolgot station ( Suin-Bundang Line),
Siheung City Hall station The Seohae Line is a dual-track, electrified rail line in western Gyeonggi-do, South Korea. The Seohae Line is being built in four sections simultaneously. The first section runs south from Sosa in Bucheon, cross Siheung, and ends in Wonsi in ...
( Seohae Line, Sinansan Line),
Gwangmyeong Station Gwangmyeong station () is a train station in Gwangmyeong, South Korea. The station was newly built as a stop of national railway operator Korail's KTX high-speed service, south of Seoul Station. The area surrounding the station is home to the ...
( Line 1, Sinansan Line),
Anyang station Anyang Station is a ground-level metro station on line 1 of the Seoul Subway in Anyang 1-dong, Manan-gu, Anyang, South Korea. The station's sole exit offers access to Enter-6 Mall, which occupies the same building. Travel time from Anyang Stat ...
( Line 1), Indeogwon station ( Line 4, Indeogwon-Dongtan Line). Service may then be further extended further west towards downtown Incheon using the tracks of the Suin-Bundang Line. *The Sinansan Line will open in 2025. The line will start at
Yeouido station Yeouido Station is a subway station on Line 5 and Line 9 of the Seoul Subway system. It is one of the stations that serve the eponymous island of Yeouido, one of Seoul's financial hubs. The large Yeouido Park is close to this station. A new su ...
and split into two branches: one to
Hanyang University ERICA Campus Hanyang may refer to: China * Hanyang District (漢陽區, 汉阳区, ''Hànyáng Qū''), Wuhan, Hubei :* Hanyang Arsenal (漢陽兵工廠), founded in 1891 as one of the oldest modern arsenals in Chinese history :* Hanyang 88 (漢陽八八式步 ...
station, and one to
Songsan station Songsan Station () is a station of the U Line in Yonghyeon-dong, Uijeongbu, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea (ROK), is a country in East Asia, constituting the southern part of the Korean Peninsul ...
on the Seohae Line. The second branch will partly share tracks with the Seohae Line and the
Gyeonggang Line The Gyeonggang Line (경강선) is a rail line in South Korea, which at present comprises two distinct sections. The first one, which opened on September 24, 2016, is part of the Seoul Metropolitan Subway system in Gyeonggi-do, South Korea, and ru ...
. * Line 7 will be extended 3 stations northwards to Okjeong station in
Yangju Yangju () is a city in Gyeonggi Province, South Korea. Yangju is located south of Dongducheon and north of Uijeongbu, not far from Seoul. History * 1395 - Renamed to Yangju. * January 1, 1963 - Uijeongbu is separated and becomes a city. * Apri ...
, with a transfer with Tapseok station on the
U Line The U Line is a driverless, fully automatic, grade-separated light rail or light metro line in Uijeongbu, Seoul Capital Area, South Korea. The "U" is short for the city Uijeongbu. The line uses Véhicule Automatique Léger (VAL) 208 trains buil ...
by 2025. It is also scheduled to extend from Seongnam station to
Cheongna International City station Cheongna International City () is a station of the AREX in Gyeongseo-dong, Seo District, Incheon, South Korea. It is situated near the entrance of the Incheon International Airport Expressway The Incheon International Airport Expressway (Korea ...
in 2027, with a transfer with
AREX AREX (Airport Railroad Express) is a South Korean commuter rail line that links Incheon International Airport with Seoul Station via Gimpo International Airport. The section between the two airports opened on March 23, 2007, and line was exten ...
. * Line 9 will be extended 4 stations eastwards from
VHS Medical Center station VHS Medical Center Station is a terminal railway station on Seoul Subway Line 9 in Gangdong-gu, Seoul Seoul (; ; ), officially known as the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea.Before 1972, Seoul was the ...
to Saemteo Park station, with a transfer with
Godeok station Godeok Station is a subway station on Seoul Subway Line 5 in Gangdong-gu, Seoul. It links to Baejae High School, Myungil High School, Gwangmun High School, Hanyoung High School, and Hanyoung Foreign Language High School. It will be part of Seoul S ...
on Line 5 by 2028. *
Hagik station Hagik Station ( ko, 학익역) is an under-construction railway station on Suin Line of the Seoul Metropolitan Subway system.Songdo station and Inha University station on the Suin–Bundang Line, will open as an in-fill station once redevelopment of the area surrounding it is completed. This area will feature cultural, commercial, and medical facilities along with new residential areas.


Approved for construction

The following lines have not started construction, but are considered to be approved after their plans and their financing have been finalized. Most of these lines are scheduled to start construction in the next couple of years. * The Wirye–Sinsa Line, a light metro line in southeastern Seoul, will open between
Sinsa station Sinsa station is a station on the Seoul Subway Line 3 and the Shinbundang Line. It is located in Sinsa-dong, Gangnam-gu and Seocho-gu, Seoul Seoul (; ; ), officially known as the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis o ...
and Wirye with 11 stations planned. * Line 7 will also be further extended 3 stations northwards from Okjeong station in
Yangju Yangju () is a city in Gyeonggi Province, South Korea. Yangju is located south of Dongducheon and north of Uijeongbu, not far from Seoul. History * 1395 - Renamed to Yangju. * January 1, 1963 - Uijeongbu is separated and becomes a city. * Apri ...
, currently under construction, to the city of
Pocheon Pocheon () is an inland city in the far northeastern region of Gyeonggi province in South Korea. It covers 2 with a population of 160,176 people, according to the 2008 census. Pocheon lies between Seoul and the mountainous northwestern areas of G ...
, with a terminus at Pocheon station. *The
Shinbundang Line The Shinbundang Line (aka ''Sinbundang Line''; ; literally, ''New Bundang Line'') or DX Line for Dynamic Express Line is a long line of the Seoul Metropolitan Subway. It is the world's fifth subway to run completely driverless and the second com ...
will be extended north from
Sinsa station Sinsa station is a station on the Seoul Subway Line 3 and the Shinbundang Line. It is located in Sinsa-dong, Gangnam-gu and Seocho-gu, Seoul Seoul (; ; ), officially known as the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis o ...
to Yongsan station, with 3 new stations over 5.3 km. Construction will begin upon the completion of the transfer of ownership of the
Yongsan Garrison Yongsan Garrison ( ko, 용산기지; Hanja: ), meaning "dragon hill garrison," is an area located in the Yongsan District of central Seoul, South Korea. The site served as the headquarters for U.S. military forces stationed in South Korea, known ...
to the Korean government. *The
Shinbundang Line The Shinbundang Line (aka ''Sinbundang Line''; ; literally, ''New Bundang Line'') or DX Line for Dynamic Express Line is a long line of the Seoul Metropolitan Subway. It is the world's fifth subway to run completely driverless and the second com ...
will also be extended south from
Gwanggyo Jungang station GwanggyoJungang ( Ajou Univ.) Station is a major metro station located in Gwanggyo, Yeongtong-gu, Suwon, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea (ROK), is a country in East Asia, constituting the southern ...
to Homaesil station, with 5 new stations and 11 km of tracks. Construction will begin in 2023. * The Seobu Line is a new light metro line, which will have a length of 18 km and go through 16 stations, starting at Gwanaksan station, which is also the last station of the
Sillim Line The Sillim Line () is a light metro which is part of the Seoul Metropolitan Subway. It opened on May 28, 2022. Stations Main Line Proposed extensions A northern extension towards Dongyeouido (Station name is not determined yet) is currentl ...
, and then go North-West across the Han River and up to
Saejeol station Saejeol Station is a railway station on Seoul Subway Line 6, Line 6 of the Seoul Metropolitan Subway, Seoul Subway. It was originally planned to be called Sinsa Station, but the name was changed due to possible confusion with the pre-existing Sin ...
on Line 6. Construction will begin in 2023. * The Indeogwon-Dongtan Line is a new metro line in the south part of the
Seoul Capital Area The Seoul Capital Area (SCA), Sudogwon (, ) or Gyeonggi region (), is the metropolitan area of Seoul, Incheon, and Gyeonggi Province, located in north-west South Korea. Its population of 26 million (as of 2020) is ranked as the fifth largest me ...
. It will have 17 stations and a length of 33.7 km, starting at Indeogwon station and terminating at Dongtan station. Construction is scheduled to start by the end of 2021. * GTX B and GTX C have been approved, and will offer new express commuter rail service to complement the existing subway service. GTX C should start construction in 2022, and will go from Suwon Station to Deokjeong Station. Construction of GTX B, which will go from Songdo station to Maseok station, should follow soon afterwards.


Planned


Seoul City

The Seoul Metropolitan government published a ten-year plan for expansion of the subway with the following projects under consideration. *Gangbukhoengdan Line, a new line running in an arc north of Seoul between Cheongnyangni station and Mok-dong station with 19 stations planned. The line will provide transfers to Lines 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 9, AREX, Gyeongui–Jungang, Gyeongchun, Bundang and Ui line. *Ui LRT will open a branch line from Solbat Park station to Banghak station on Line 1, the extension will open with 3 stations. *Myeonmok Line is a light metro in the northeastern area of Seoul running between Cheongnyangni station and Sinnae station with 12 stations and connections to the Gyeongchun Line and Line 6. *Sillim Line#Nangok branch, Nangok Line is a branch of the light metro
Sillim Line The Sillim Line () is a light metro which is part of the Seoul Metropolitan Subway. It opened on May 28, 2022. Stations Main Line Proposed extensions A northern extension towards Dongyeouido (Station name is not determined yet) is currentl ...
in the southwestern area of Seoul running between Nangok-dong and Boramae Park with 5 stations planned. *Mok-dong Line is a light metro in southwestern Seoul running between Sinwol-dong and Dangsan station on line 2, with 12 stations planned. * Line 4 will start running express services between Danggogae station and
Namtaeryeong station Namtaeryeong Station is a station on Seoul Subway Line 4. It is operated by Seoul Metro. The name of this station literally means "great southern pass," referring to a passageway linking Seoul and Gwacheon, between Mt. Gwanak and Mt. Umyeon. Act ...
. * Line 5 will start running shuttle services connecting Gubeundari station on the mainline and Dunchon-dong station on the Macheon Branch. *The
Sillim Line The Sillim Line () is a light metro which is part of the Seoul Metropolitan Subway. It opened on May 28, 2022. Stations Main Line Proposed extensions A northern extension towards Dongyeouido (Station name is not determined yet) is currentl ...
will be connected to Seobu Line with a track between Seoul National University station ( Line 2) and Gwanaksan station, Gwanaksan(Seoul National Univ.).


Incheon City

The Incheon Metropolitan government is working on the Second Incheon Metro Network Construction Plan that inherits the Incheon Metro Network Construction Plan published in 2016. It includes the construction of five new tram lines. The draft is expected to be released in October 2020. *Incheon Subway line 3 is planned to be a semi-circular subway line of Incheon. It will intersect Seoul Subway Line 1, Seoul Line 1 at Dowon station and to Incheon Subway Line 1, Incheon Line 1 at Dongmak station.


Network map


See also

* Seoul Light Rapid Transit * Incheon Subway * Pyongyang Metro * Seoul Metropolitan Subway stations * Transport in South Korea * List of metro systems * List of tram and light rail transit systems * Incheon Airport Maglev


Notes


References


External links

* Official websites by company *
Korail
*
Seoul Metro
*
Seoul Metropolitan Rapid Transit Corporation
(Archeived) *
Shinbundang Line
*
Cyber Station - Map, station and route finder
* Seoul city government *
The Seoul Underground Subway: Official Seoul Tourism
*
English-language WMV video
describing Seoul Subway history, current construction and future projects {{Rapid transit in Asia Seoul Metropolitan Subway, Railway companies established in 1974 Underground rapid transit in South Korea