Here’s what to know about the bus system when you first arrive~
Buses 🚌
You’ll mainly see two types of buses:
City buses and village buses.
City buses are larger and run between neighborhoods and major areas.
Village buses are smaller and usually loop through residential areas, hills, or places big buses cannot easily reach. You will know when you are on one because its like living through a fast and furious movie.
When riding the bus:
Always get on at the front door and tap your card by the driver.
Always get off at the back door, you can tap your car here too.
The only exception is when the bus is extremely full. In that case, the driver may open both doors and direct people differently.
You must tap your transit card when you get on.
In Busan, you technically do not have to tap when getting off unless you are transferring. However, it is still a good habit to tap off every time.
One thing you may notice quickly: many people stand near the front of the bus instead of moving to the back. This can make the entrance area crowded even when there is space further inside. It is normal here, so you can’t assume the bus is full just because the front is packed.
Bus Etiquette
You will see priority seats at the front of the bus. These are for:
Older adults
Pregnant passengers
People with injuries
Passengers with disabilities
While Seoul is quite strict with this unspoken rule, it’s not heavily observed in other parts of the country. In Busan, younger people sometimes sit in these seats when the seat is empty, but they almost always get up when someone needs them. If you choose to sit there, just stay aware and be ready to stand quickly.
Most buses will say the stop name, and the next stop name in Korean. After they will say the stop name in English, so you don’t always have to be glued to your navigation app.
Some buses have rules against luggage, limiting the size of the suitcase you can bring. If you have something larger than a carry on, be prepared to take an alternative route if you get turned away.
Also, most buses try to limit noise. Try your best to keep it down, or you risk getting scolded by an older passenger or even the bus driver.
Subway 🚇
The subway is straightforward and extremely punctual. Stations are clearly labeled in Korean and English, and announcements are made in multiple languages.
In Seoul, some lines have inner circle and outer circle trains. And some trains are express while others are normal.
Inner circle vs outer circle:
These trains run in loops. Make sure you check the direction before boarding, even if they sign says its headed towards the same exit as your Naver maps app. If you aren’t careful you may go the opposite way around the circle.
Express vs normal trains:
Express trains skip certain stops and get you there faster. Always double check that your stop is included before boarding. The signs on the platform will show which stops the train will serve.
Subway Etiquette
You will notice different types of priority seating:
Elderly priority seats often at the ends of the cart.
Pregnant priority seats at the end of certain aisles.
The elderly priority section is usually at the ends of each subway car. These seats are rarely used by younger people, even when the train is empty. If you sit there, you will likely get some looks.
Pregnant priority seats are usually marked in pink. In Busan, older adults sometimes sit in these seats, but most younger people avoid them unless the train is very empty.
As a general rule:
Avoid sitting in priority seats
Stand to the side of doors when boarding and stand in the middle when exiting to avoid getting trampled.
You will also notice that subway cars tend to stay quiet. Phone calls are uncommon, and most people keep conversations low.
TLDR:
Enter at the front of the bus
Tap your card every time you board
Exit at the back door
Tap off when you transfer
Check train direction before boarding
Avoid priority seats when possible
Move quickly on and off during busy hours
Once you get used to it, public transportation in Korea becomes one of the easiest parts of daily life. It is clean, efficient, and gets you almost anywhere you need to go.
Did anything about Korean public transportation surprise you? Or did I miss something helpful? Share your tips in the comments.