Traffic jams are all too common in Seoul, so be careful on the streets and head underground when possible. Street and subway signage is usually written in English as well as Korean.
By Subway
In Seoul, you can visit most places by using the subway. There are currently nine numbered lines plus a smattering of named suburban lines, all distinguished by different colors. All signs in the subway system are in Korean both hangeul and if applicable, hanja and English. The signs leading to the platform for a particular direction of travel on a given subway line typically list the names of a number of stations in that direction. Stations each have a 3 digit number, but locals rarely make use of these numbers, and they're not on most subway maps, so don't rely on them. A subway map can be found here: (http://www.smrt.co.kr/pro...).
Subway fares are based on the distance traveled, but the shortest ride costs â©1,000 base charge plus card deposit â©500 refundable if you return the card at designated machines at each station. The base charge roughly covers up to 10 km of the journey and â©100 is added for every 5 km beyond that. Cards can be purchased from vending machines ONLY. All vending machines accept coins and bills, up to â©10,000 notes and some â©50,000 notes, but cash exchange machines are at each station. Hang onto your card until the end of your trip, as you'll need it to get out. Most of Seoul's automated card machines are equipped with touchscreen and full English support along with Chinese and Japanese. Since ticket machines may be crowded, buying two cards one for each way is recommended.
If planning on using the Metro extensively or staying for more than a few weeks, you should consider purchasing a T-money stored value contactless smart card. You can buy this card at most subway stations and many newspaper kiosks near subway entrances, as well as convenience stores. The card itself costs â©3000 and cash can be charged onto the card as often as you like. When entering and leaving a subway turnstile, place the card on the reader leaving it inside your purse or wallet is fine and it will deduct the appropriate fare from the card. Using this card will allow you to save â©100 on all transfers these are common with Seoul's extensive subway system and you can get all but â©500 back if you have unused credit.
Typically for most travellers staying less than 2 weeks in Seoul, purchasing this card may not be cheaper but other factors should be considered: it can also be used for taxi fares, buses, storage lockers, pay phones, etc. However, using a transportation card is highly recommended if you wish to use it for buses as well simply for its ability to transfer between them since you will not have to pay for the basic 900 fare twice for a single journey when using two modes of transport. It also saves the hassle from figuring out how much you need to pay or waiting in line to buy a single-use ticket. The subway is not open 24 hours, so you may be stranded late at night.