Buses are everywhere and are the best way to economically get to the nooks and crannies of cities and the country. With over 400 routes and 8500 city buses in Seoul alone, getting used to which one stops where can be a daunting task for a foreigner.
The hours of operation vary but they usually range from 4:30am until 1am and arrive at 5 to 15 minute intervals. An additional value of riding buses instead of subways is that you can see where you're going and take in the sights, as opposed to the concrete mayhem of the subway. Buses can be absolutely jam-packed and traveling at frenetic speeds during peak times, so be prepared to have a firm grip on something and ready to fight to get off at your stop before the new passengers step onboard.
There are three different kinds of city buses in Korea.
[edit] Ilban bus (일반버스)
Ilban bus (일반버스), which is the regular city bus. They usually can be seen in a bright yellow/orange color. You may also see a lot of blue and green Ilban buses, as well. They are all the same, but blue/green ones run on natural gas (NGV).
[edit] Jwaseok bus (좌석버스)
Jwaseok bus (좌석버스), is known as a City Express bus that is designed to seat all passengers due to having fewer stops. They are larger than Ilban buses and the price is usually double that of the Ilban ones.
[edit] Jikhaeng Jwaseok bus (직행좌석버스)
Jikhaeng Jwaseok buses (직행좌석버스) are non-stop deluxe buses that link Gyeonggi-do satellite cities to Seoul. There are also late night seated buses (Shimya Jwaseok Bus 심야좌석버스) operate past midnight until 1:30-2:30am.
[edit] Maeul bus (마을버스)
Maeul buses (마을버스) are ones that travel around in communities and residential areas that are not accessible by Ilban or Jwaseok buses. These buses travel short distances to connect passengers to nearby subway stations, schools, and shopping areas. Usually these buses are smaller and are crammed during peak hours.
[edit] Bus Fares
Adult 700 (650 with T-money card)
Middle or high school students 550 (490 with T-money card)
Primary school children 300 (same price with T-money card)
[edit] Jwaseok
Adult 1300 (1200 with T-money card)
Middle or high school students 1300 (1200 with T-money card)
[edit] Jikhaeng Jwaseok
Adult 1400 (1300 with T-money card)
Middle or high school students 1300 (1100 with T-money card)
Adult 350 (320 with T-money card)
Middle or high school students 300 (270 with T-money card)
Primary school children 100 (same price with T-money card)
[edit] Bus Payment Methods
Every bus has a cash box near the entrance door. Coins and 1000won bills are accepted, but you might get some aggravation trying to try to give anything 5000won or above.
[edit] Pre-paid Transportation Card/T-money
- Main article: T-money
Locally known as Gyotong Cards(교통카드) or T-money cards are pay-per-ride cards that look like thin plastic cards and can be bought for 2000won, then you need to charge the card in 10,000 or 20,000won denominations. This will save you the hassle of fishing for change all the time, whereas you will now be able to just swipe the card on the electronic scanner when entering the bus or passing through subway gates. Plus you’ll get some small discount for each time you use the card. You can buy these cards at subway tellers and can also be found in some newspapers stands by bus stops. Look for a sign that says 교통카드 충전소 (Gyotong Card Chungjeonso) and say ‘Gyotong Card Chungjeonhae Juseyo’(교통가드 충전해 주세요, please recharge my transportation card) and pass them the denominations that you want to top it up with.
[edit] Credit-based Transportation Card
If you bank at Kookmin Bank, Korea Exchange Bank, or have Samsung or LG credit cards, you can ask to have your debit or credit card to have the additional function of acting as a transportation card when using buses and subways. Other banks are adopting this functionality, so be sure to ask your bank.
[edit] Transfer Discounts
If you plan on transferring to another form of public transportation, then make sure that you swipe your card at the transit discount machine (hwanseunghaleen, 환승할인) by the exit door. The machine will beep to let you know that the time has been recorded in the card. Then you have 60 minutes to transfer to another bus or subway, to be eligible to receive a 50won reduction in fare. It’s small, but makes a big difference if you do a lot of public commuting.
[edit] Knowing When to Get Off
If you’re unsure of where and when to get off, ask the driver to stop at your destination for you by stating your destination and adding “_______ nae-ryo juseyo (____내려주세요) and then try to position yourself near an exit in anticipation of his signal.
If you know where you’re going, then make sure you press the little red buzzers on the wall of the bus, before you get to the next stop.
[edit] Bus Culture
[edit] Yielding a Seat
Most Koreans will avoid taking a seat that is reserved for senior or disabled passengers if other seats are available, however it’s good etiquette in Korean tradition to give up whatever seat you are in to someone who is hierarchically superior or elder to you. This is also good form on subways.
[edit] Offer to hold bags
It’s also good etiquette in Korea for seated passengers to hold the bags or belongings of passengers who are standing, even if they are strangers.
[edit] Exclusive Bus Lanes
There are exclusive bus lanes (Bus Jeonyongchaseon, 버스전용차선), but you will find that buses jockey for position in all lanes and cars will often disregard the bus lane rule, especially on highways coming into and out of Seoul on weekends when millions of Koreans head to the countryside or other cities.
[edit] Watch out for Motorbikes
The streets of Korea are full of delivery drivers on bikes and scooters and they are reckless at best. Driving down sidewalks and through red lights, they deserve to be watched out for, particularly when getting out of cars and buses.
[edit] Special Services
[edit] Airport Limousine Buses
Airport limousine buses connect you from the airports to major hubs, and cost around 7000 to 13000 won or so depending on the comfort of the bus and the number of stops it makes. Also, KAL Limousine buses commute from the airports to major hotels.
[edit] City Tour Buses
Most major cities have a city tour bus. In Seoul, the tour bus has 4 routes. Day Tour, Night Tour, Palace Course, and World Cup Course. They’re available year-round, except for working Mondays. Every tour starts at Gwanghwamun, in front of the Dongwha Duty Free Shop building. Tickets can be bought on the bus and vary in price, depending on the route.
[edit] Rented and Private Shuttle Buses
One thing that you will see often is chartered tour buses. Ranging from wedding hall chartered buses, museum tour buses, etc…but also the smaller hagwon buses that shuttle kids around to different education academies.
[edit] Useful Bus Lines in Seoul
[edit] 710-Southeast-South-Central(Seoul Station)-Northeast
Route:
[edit] 139-South-Northwest-Central(Seoul Station)-Northeast
Route:
[edit] 12-3-Southeast-Central(Myeongdong)-Northwest
Route:
[edit] 23-Northeast-Central(Seoul Station)-Itaewon
Route:
Route:
[edit] 17-Southeast-Central (Hannam-dong)-Northeast
Route:
[edit] 16-Northeast-Central(Seoul Station)-Southeast
Route:
[edit] 7-Northeast-Central(Mugyodong)-Northwest
Route:
[edit] 361-Northeast-Central(Seoul Station)-Northwest
Route:
[edit] Korean Words Used to Describe Drop off Points
- Ogeoli (오거리) - Five way intersection
- Sahgeoli (사거리) - Four way intersection (In the southern provinces of Korea, this can also be referred to as 'nehgoli' (네거리)
- Sahmgeoli (삼거리) - Three way intersection
- Shijang (시장) - Open market
- Ap (앞) - In front of ...
- Ipgu (입구) - At the gate of ...
- Yeok (역) - Station, Terminal
- Apart (아파트) - Apartment
- Sa (사) - Temple
- Dae (대) - University
- Gongwon (공원) - Park
[edit] Confusing Locations
- Sincheon (신천) and Sinchon (신촌). Sincheon (pronounced 'shin-chawn' - think English 'lawn' with the l replaced with a ch) is subway station south of the Han River. Sinchon (pronounced 'shin-choan' - think English 'moan' with the m replaced with a ch) is north of the river. Both are on Subway Line 2.
[edit] External links
