Seoul subway fare calculator
Enter two stations along Lines 1 to 8 or AREX, or popular places near them, to see the transit card and single-journey ticket fares.
| Transit card | Single-journey ticket | |
|---|---|---|
| Adult | KRW 1,650 | KRW 1,750 |
| Teenager (13–18) | KRW 980 | KRW 1,750 |
| Child (6–12) | KRW 600 | KRW 600 |
Distance used for the fare: 11.5 km
A single-journey ticket also needs a KRW 500 deposit, which you get back from the machine after your trip.
The shortest route uses part of the Shinbundang Line. This fare assumes you travel on other lines; riding the Shinbundang Line itself adds its own extra fare.
Only stations on Seoul Metro Lines 1 to 8 and on AREX, and the popular places listed below, can be chosen. Distances on other lines, such as Line 9 and the Suin-Bundang Line, are used only to find the shortest route.
Rules in force since Jun 28, 2025, checked against the official text on Sep 28, 2026.
Data updated (Korea time)Last checked (Korea time)
Common trips
Adult fare with a transit card.
| Route | Fare |
|---|---|
| Seoul Station → Gangnam서울역 → 강남 | KRW 1,650 |
| Seoul Station → Myeongdong서울역 → 명동 | KRW 1,550 |
| Hongik Univ. → Gangnam홍대입구 → 강남 | KRW 1,650 |
| Hongik Univ. → Dongdaemun History & Culture Park(DDP)홍대입구 → 동대문역사문화공원(DDP) | KRW 1,550 |
| Gangnam → Jamsil (Songpagu Office)강남 → 잠실(송파구청) | KRW 1,550 |
| Gimpo Int'l Airport → Hongik Univ.김포공항 → 홍대입구 | KRW 1,650 |
| Seoul Station → Incheon Int'l Airport Terminal 1서울역 → 인천공항1터미널 | KRW 4,750 |
| Incheon Int'l Airport Terminal 2 → Hongik Univ.인천공항2터미널 → 홍대입구 | KRW 5,250 |
Popular places and nearby stations
You can type these names in the calculator above. The fare only covers the subway ride, so allow for the walk or bus separately. Stations, exits and distances come from official Seoul pages; each place name links to its source. Last checked Nov 6, 2026.
| Place | Station | From the station |
|---|---|---|
| Gyeongbokgung Palace경복궁 | Gyeongbokgung경복궁(정부서울청사) | Exit 5, about 492 m on foot. |
| Changdeokgung Palace창덕궁 | Anguk안국 | Exit 3, about 389 m on foot. |
| Bukchon Hanok Village북촌한옥마을 | Anguk안국 | Exit 3, about 516 m on foot. |
| Deoksugung Palace덕수궁 | City Hall시청 | Exit 2. |
| Gwanghwamun Square광화문광장 | Gwanghwamun광화문(세종문화회관) | Exit 2, about 235 m on foot. |
| Cheonggyecheon Stream청계천 | City Hall시청 | Exit 4, about 384 m on foot. |
| Jogyesa Temple조계사 | Jonggak종각 | Exit 2, about 413 m on foot. |
| Insadong인사동 | Anguk안국 | Exit 6. |
| Ikseon-dong Hanok Village익선동 한옥마을 | Jongno 3(sam)ga종로3가 | Exit 4, about 123 m on foot. |
| Gwangjang Market광장시장 | Jongno 5(o)ga종로5가 | Exit 8, about 62 m on foot. |
| Myeongdong명동 | Myeongdong명동 | Exit 5–10. |
| Namdaemun Market남대문시장 | Hoehyeon회현(남대문시장) | Exit 7, about 17 m on foot. |
| Namsan Seoul Tower남산서울타워 | Chungmuro충무로 | Exit 2, plus a ride on Bus 01A/01B. |
| Namsangol Hanok Village남산골한옥마을 | Chungmuro충무로 | Exit 4, about 307 m on foot. |
| Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP)동대문디자인플라자 | Dongdaemun History & Culture Park동대문역사문화공원(DDP) | Exit 1, about 37 m on foot. |
| War Memorial of Korea전쟁기념관 | Samgakji삼각지(전쟁기념관) | Exit 11, about 227 m on foot. |
| National Museum of Korea국립중앙박물관 | Ichon이촌(국립중앙박물관) | Exit 2, about 309 m on foot. |
| Hongdae홍대 | Hongik Univ.홍대입구 | Exit 7. |
| Lotte World Adventure롯데월드 어드벤처 | Jamsil잠실(송파구청) | Exit 3, about 271 m on foot. |
| Lotte World Tower롯데월드타워 | Jamsil잠실(송파구청) | Exit 2, about 29 m on foot. |
| Starfield Library (COEX)별마당도서관 | Samseong삼성(무역센터) | Exit 5, about 353 m on foot. |
| Seoul Forest서울숲 | Ttukseom뚝섬 | Exit 8, about 537 m on foot. |
| Olympic Park올림픽공원 | Olympic Park올림픽공원(한국체대) | Exit 4, about 1,100 m on foot. |
| Yeouido Park여의도공원 | Yeouido여의도 | Exit 3, about 651 m on foot. |
How Seoul subway fares work
Seoul and the surrounding region use a single distance-based fare system. The fare depends on the length of the shortest route between your two stations, not on the route you actually take or the number of transfers. The first 10 km cost the base fare of KRW 1,550 for an adult with a transit card.
After that, KRW 100 is added for every 5 km or part of it up to 50 km, and then for every 8 km beyond 50 km. Most trips across central Seoul stay within the first few steps.
Transit card or single-journey ticket
Rechargeable transit cards such as T-money give the lower fare shown under Transit card. You can buy and top them up at convenience stores and at machines in stations, and they also work on city buses.
A single-journey ticket costs KRW 100 more for adults and needs a refundable deposit. Teenagers who use a single-journey ticket pay the adult single-journey fare, so a transit card saves them more. Children pay the child fare with either.
Teenager and child fares
Children from 6 to 12 and teenagers from 13 to 18 pay reduced fares with their own base fare and smaller distance steps. Students up to 24 who are still in primary or secondary school also pay the teenager fare. Children under 6 travel free with an adult. To get the reduced fare on a transit card, the card has to be registered as a teenager or child card; otherwise the adult fare is charged.
The airport railroad (AREX)
The all-stop AREX train is part of the same distance-based system between Seoul Station and Cheongna International City. From Cheongna onwards, towards Yeongjong Island and Incheon Airport, AREX charges its own fare for that section, which is added to the fare up to Cheongna. The calculator includes both parts.
The AREX Express train between Seoul Station and Incheon Airport is a separate non-stop service with its own fixed fare and ticket, and it is not covered here. A few fares in the official AREX table for stations such as Gyeyang and Geomam do not follow the section-by-section rule; the calculator shows the table fare and marks it for you to confirm.
What this calculator does not cover
Stations run by other operators, such as Line 9, the Shinbundang Line and Korail sections of Lines 1, 3 and 4, cannot be chosen, although their distances are used to find the shortest route. Riding the Shinbundang Line adds its own extra fare. Discounts such as early-morning fares and transfers to buses are not included. For the final fare, the transit card reader is always right.
Frequently asked questions
- How much is the basic subway fare in Seoul?
- With a transit card, the base fare for an adult is KRW 1,550 for the first 10 km. Longer trips add KRW 100 per distance step.
- Why is the fare different from the route I took?
- Fares are based on the shortest possible route between the two stations, even if you take a longer route or change lines several times.
- How much is the subway from Seoul Station to Incheon Airport?
- On the all-stop AREX train, choose Seoul Station and Incheon Int'l Airport Terminal 1 or Incheon Int'l Airport Terminal 2 in the calculator. The AREX Express is a separate service with its own fare.
- Is a single-journey ticket more expensive?
- Yes. It costs KRW 100 more for adults and needs a deposit that you get back after your trip. Teenagers pay the adult single-journey fare.
- Can I use this for Line 9 or the Shinbundang Line?
- Not as a start or end point. Their distances are used to find the shortest route, but their stations cannot be chosen, and the Shinbundang Line's extra fare is not included.
- Do I pay again when I transfer between lines?
- No. Transfers inside the subway are included, and the fare is based on the total distance of the shortest route.
Sources
- Seoul Metro: fares and passenger regulations (Korean-language site; may be slow to open outside Korea)
- AREX: all-stop train fares
- Seoul Metro station distance data (public data portal)
- Visit Seoul and other official Seoul pages (each place name in the table links to its source)