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HOME News & ForumLiving at SNULife in Seoul |
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| Transportation |
| Korea has an extremely well-developed transportation network. Seoul is extensively connected with other cities and countries via air, land and sea routes, and getting around within the city is pleasurable thanks to a well-organized network of subways, buses and taxis. Furthermore, a new transportation fare system offers incredible discounts when transferring between buses as well as between subway and buses. |
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| Subway |
| Seoul has one of the most well-developed subway systems in the world. It is also one of the busiest, making some eight million trips daily across its ten lines. In terms of passengers, the system is the third busiest in the world behind the Tokyo and Moscow subways. Foreigners generally find the subway the quickest, easiest and most convenient way to travel around Seoul. Fares are reasonable, station names and route maps are written in English, and it also makes stop announcements in English at every station. Subways also have the obvious advantage of not being slowed by downtown traffic congestion during rush hour. |
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| Fare for 12 km |
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7-12 years old |
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13-18 years old |
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19-64 years old |
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65 years old and older |
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| Transportation Card |
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450 won |
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640 won |
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900 won |
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Free |
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| Cash |
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450 won |
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900 won |
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900 won |
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Free |
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| Buses |
Getting around Seoul by bus used to be a complicated affair. But the Seoul bus system was completely revised in 2004 and now, buses are categorized into four colors. Blue (arterial) buses connect outlying areas with the downtown area and run along a north-south and east-west axis. Green (local) buses operate within a specific district. These two buses will also make stops at subway stations. Then there are red buses (express buses) linking downtown Seoul with satellite cities such as Ilsan, Bundang, Anyang and Ansan. Finally, yellow (downtown circular) buses run short routes in major downtown areas.
Bus fares are around 550-1700 won per trip depending on how far you travel and whether you transfer to another bus. Remember to scan your transportation card as you exit the bus. Then you will only have to pay an additional charge of 300 won (at most) for the next bus. The interval times are from 3-15 minutes, and you can check the schedule for your bus at the stations where the bus stops.
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| Trains |
| Korea has an extensive railway system linking the entire country. Operated by the Korean National Railroad, trains are fast, reliable, comfortable and reasonably priced. On the weekends and holidays, it is highly competitive to get a ticket, so booking is essential. You can buy your tickets in advance online, at railway stations, banks or at tour agencies to ensure an organized and comfortable trip. |
| Taxis |
| There are three kinds of taxis in Korea; general taxis, deluxe taxis, and call taxis. The last two types of taxis offer a high standard of service, but they are more expensive. You cannot always expect that a taxi driver is fluent in English, so it is advisable to tell the driver the landmarks (major hotels or famous attractions) near your destination. Vacant taxis have indicator lamps on, in front of the assistant driver seat or on the roof. The fare for general taxis is calculated by both the distance and time of travel. The basic fare is 1,900 won for the first 2 km and 100 won for each additional 168m. The fare for deluxe taxis is 4,000 won for the first 3km and 200 won for each additional 205m or 50 seconds. The fare for call taxis varies from company to company, so please check the fare in advance. Fares can be flexible especially at night and for long distances, so for these cases, try to haggle over the fare before you get into a taxi. |
| Korean Traditional Medicine |
| Korean traditional medicine has built its reputation throughout Korean history on the uniqueness of its holistic approach. The whole world can benefit from its comprehensive and integrated care for wellness, as well as preventative treatments for incurable diseases. |
| Call Taxis for the Handicapped |
| Call taxis for the disabled is a special taxi service provided by the Seoul Metropolitan Government to facilitate travel of the physically challenged. 100 fleets of vans which can accommodate 9 or 12 people are tentatively in service. The fare is 40 percent of that of general taxis. |
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