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Seoul, the capital city of South Korea, has some 10 million inhabitants. The subway is actually operated by three different companies:

Seoul Metropolitan Subway Corporation (Seoul Subway) runs lines 1 - 4, constructed between 1971 and 1994.

Seoul Metropolitan Rapid Transit Corporation (SMRT) runs lines 5 - 8, constructed between 1990 and 2000.

Korail (Korea Railroad, formerly Korean National Railroad) operates line 1 (except from Seoul station to Cheongnyangni), Ilsan line (line 3 north of Jichuk; now depicted as line 3), Gwacheon and Ansan lines (line 4 south of Namtaeryeong; not depicted as line 4), the Bundang Line and the Jungang Line.

In the 1990's, Seoul has carried out probably the world's most ambitious subway extension program adding 160 km of new lines to the network. This included the extension of former lines 2, 3 and 4 (15 km) and 4 totally new lines of which line 5 is 52 km long (including both eastern branches). New maps also include Incheon's first subway line which is linked to the Seoul subway network via Line 1.

Line 1 was built 1971-1974 and opened 15 Aug 1974, crosses central business district, directly linked to Korail Kyoungbu, Kyongin (68.5km) and Kyongwon (31.2km) lines. Originally shown on maps in red it is now the dark blue line together with several Korail branches which are operated jointly. Like other Korail lines, this line is operated on the left.

On 16 Dec 2005, the Yongsan - Hoegi branch via Oksu was separated from Line 1 and extended on a new route east to Dokseo.

Line 2 was built 1978-1984 together with the Seongsu - Sinseol-dong branch, the second branch Sindorim - Kkachisan was built 1989-1993. Dangsan bridge was closed for reconstruction in 1996 and reopened on 22 November 1999. The old steel girder bridge was substituted by a 1.3 km long concrete bridge between Dangsan station on the southern side of the river and Hapjeong on the northern bank. Headways on the line can now be reduced to 30 seconds, off peak intervals 5-6 min. The line connects the city centre to Gangnam (south shore), the second city centre.

More pictures >

Line 3 was built 1980-1993 and connects north-western end of Seoul to city centre and Gangnam. Through operation on Korail Ilsan line (right-hand running) from Jichuk to Daehwa.

Line 4 was built 1980-1994 and connects the densely populated northeast to the south via old city centre. From Namtaeryeong it is linked to the Korail Gwacheon Line to Ansan.

Line 5 was built 1990-1996 and is an important east - west link including Gimpo International Airport and the Youido business area.

Line 6 opened its first section 7 Aug 2000: Bonghwasan - Sangwolgok 4 km. On 15 Dec. 2000 the remaining section (27 km) was also put into service although 4 stations in central Seoul had not been finished by then (Itaewon - Yaksu). These stations were finally operable on 9 March 2001, which concluded the ambitious expansion programme carried out in the 1990's. The transfer corridor at Singdang (to Line 2) did not open until 3 Aug. 2001.

Line 7 was built 1990-1996 (Jangam - Konkuk Univ.) and was finished 1 August 2000 (central section 17 km Konkuk University - Sinpung). The western section between Sinpung and Onsu was put into service on 29 Feb 2000. This north - south line does not run through the city centre but links Gangnam directly to the northern parts of town.

Line 8 was built 1990-1999 and mainly serves the south-eastern parts of Seoul and the satellite city of Songnam. Jamsil to Amsa opened 2 July 1999.

Bundang Line (K2) - Subway Line operated by Korail from Seonneung to Ori, extended from Suseo to Seolleung in Sept. 2003. Guryong station was added 24 Oct 2004, and Jukjeon on 24 Dec 2007.

Click here for more details on different lines and opening dates

AREX - The first leg of the airport express line opened on 23 April 2007. This segment connects Incheon International Airport and Gimpo Airport. One of the intermediate stops is at Gyeyang, the northern terminus of Line One of Incheon's subway. At Gimpo, passengers can transfer to Line Five of the Seoul subway.

 Projects

Line 9 is planned to run 38 km from Gimpo and Gimpo Airport (Line 5) along the southern shore of the river Han-gang to Dangsan (Line 2), Yeouido (Line 5), Dongjak (Line 4) and Express Bus Terminal (Line 3 and 7) and terminate in Pangi-dong in the east. It will be a 3-track subway providing express service on separate tracks similar to New York. The first phase of construction began in April 2002. This will cover the 25.5-km-long section connecting Gimpo Airport with Panpo and is due to be completed in late 2007. Stations will have elevators, escalators and platform screen doors. (see official website)

Tentative station names (phase 1 - 2005): 901 Gimpo - 902 Gimpo Airport (Transfer to line No.5 and Incheon Airport Express Railway)- 903 Bangwha 2 - 904 Bangwha 3 - 905 Magok Newtown - 906 Yangcheon Confucian Shrine - 907 Mapo High School - 908 Jeungsan - 909 Deungchon - 910 Yeomchang - 911 Yongwangsan - 912 Yanghwa - 913 Dangsan (Transfer to line 2) - 914 National Assembly - 915 Yeouido (line 5) - 916 Korea Broadcast System headquarters - 917 Noryangjin (line 1) - 918 Heuksuk - 919 Chungang University - 920 Dongjak (line 4) - 921 GuBanpo (Old Banpo)- 922 Shinbanpo (New Banpo) - 923 Express Bus terminal (line 3 and 7) - 924 Samho Garden - 925 Cheil Life Insurance Company Headquarters (Transfer to Bundang suburb express railroad)
(phase 2 - 2007): 926 - 927 Samleung (transfer to Bundang Subway) - 928 - 929 COEX Center - 930 Sports Complex (line 2) - 931 Samjeon - 932 - 933 Seokchon (line 8) - 934 Bang-i (line 5?) - 935 - 936 Olympic Park (line 5) - 937 (through-operation on express railroad)

Line 3 - 3km extension (2003 ~ 2009) - Suseo - Garak Market (Line No. 8) - Ogeum (Line No. 5)

Bundang Line: 6.6km from Seolleung to Wangshimni (2001~2008); in the south an extension from the temporary terminus Bojeong to Yongin is planned,

Line 7 will be connected to Incheon Subway Line 1 to relieve the traffic congestion in western Seoul and northern Incheon. 9 stations will be added by 2010 for the 9.8-kilometer extension, starting from Onsu Station of Line 7 and ending at Pupyong-gu Office Station of Inchon Subway Line 1.

The proposed Sin Bundang Line Rail Project is a 19.3km rail transit line running in a north-south direction linking the Gangnam area with Jeongja in the Bundang residential district. The proposed alignment passes through 6 stations, i.e. Gangnam, Yangjae, Poi, Cheonggye, Pangyo and Jeongja. It intersects with 2 existing lines at Gangnam and Yangjae. An existing Bundang Maintenance depot, owned by KNR and located approximately 1km south of Jeongja Station, is to be used for the SBL Project rolling stock maintenance. The SBL Line signal system shall be based on state-of-the-art communications-based train control (CBTC) technology, utilizing two-way digital inductive loop communications between intelligent trains, and wayside equipment, and a network of ATS/ATO computers designed for very high system reliability and availability. Construction starts in Mid-2005, for revenue start in Jan 2010.

The EverLine Rapid Transit System in Yongin City has been under construction since Nov. 2005. The mostly elevated driverless system will feature the Bombardier CITYFLO 650 automatic train control technology. In 2009, the 18.5 km line will serve 15 stations, linking the Seoul Metropolitan subway, via Yongin City, and will terminate in the Everland area, one of the world's largest amusement parks.

- OPERATION

5:30 - 1:00 weekdays, 5:30 - 24:00 weekends, approximately every 4-6 minutes (2-3 minutes during rush hours)

Station names and signs are written in Korean and English.

- FARES (2008)

Fares are based on the distance travelled:

- 900 won (0-10 km)
- 100 won/5 km for more than 10 km trips

"TrafficCard" (smart card) allows transfer to buses.

Seoul Metro (Official Site Lines 1-4)

SMRT (Official Site Lines 5-8)

Line9 (Official Website)

A'REX (Airport Express)

Korail (Korea Railroad)

Seoul Subway on Wikipedia

Seoul Subway Map at JohoMaps

Seoul Subway Gallery

Seoul Subway opening dates

Life In Korea - Subway Info (incl. other Korean subway cities)

Websubway

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