When visiting South Korea, we actually prefer taking the bus to the subway. Besides saving the complicated and time-consuming subway transfers,
Taking a bus also allows you to enjoy the scenery along the way. Sometimes, I always come back to discover interesting stores or special views on the bus!
Here are a few tips you may not have noticed 👇
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🚩 [transportation card is a must-have! Some cities do not accept cash]
In recent years, many cities in South Korea, such as Seoul, Incheon, daegu, Daejeon, Sejong, etc., have implemented "cashless buses 현금 없는 버스", completely refusing to accept cash.
It is recommended to purchase and top up a transportation card (such as T-money or Cashbee) at the airport, convenience store or subway station before departure. Besides being used for taking the subway and buses, it can also be used to pay for small transactions at convenience stores. Moreover, the fare for swiping the card is cheaper than that for cash! Seoul is making good use of the climate companion card 기후동행카드!
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🔁 [You need to swipe your card when getting on and off the vehicle to enjoy the transfer discount]
When taking a bus in South Korea, you should swipe your brush once when getting on the front door and again when getting off the back door!
As long as the same transportation card is used, if you transfer from the subway to a bus or from a bus to another bus within 30 minutes (60 minutes from 9:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. the next day in the capital area), you can almost enjoy a transfer discount for the next leg (up to 4 transfers). But the prerequisite is that if you don't swipe your card when getting off, it won't count as a transfer, and you might be charged more for the next ride.
‼ ️ If the transfer is of the "same bus number", even if the card is swiped, it will not be regarded as a transfer and the full fare will still be charged.
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📱 [please stop using Google Maps and switch to Naver/Kakao maps]
Naver Map 네이버 지도 : has simplified Chinese and English interfaces
Kakao Map 카카오맵 : has an English interface
Both maps are acceptable
It can instantly display the time it takes for the bus to arrive, the best route to take and transfer stations. You can also set a vibration notification function for getting off the bus.
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🚫 [No handcrafted drinks or coffee allowed on the vehicle]
This is a national regulation. For the cleanliness of the vehicle and the safety of passengers, "cup beverages" and "strongly flavored foods" are strictly prohibited from being brought on board.
This rule is written on the announcements at the entrances of most buses, and drivers have the right to refuse to bring passengers on board.
✅ Sealed bottled water or thermos cups can be carried, but do not open for drinking.
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🔔 [remember to ring the bell before getting off, or the bus won't stop!]
Just like in Taiwan, buses in South Korea do not stop at every station.
When you see the bus stop sign approaching, please remember to press the red exit bell in advance. It is usually set by the window or on the handrail. If you don't press it, the driver might just drive past!
🙋 Also, at bus stops in the urban area of Seoul, drivers usually slow down or stop when they see people waiting for the bus. Even if you don't wave your hand, you can still get on the bus. But outside the urban area of Seoul, it is still recommended to wave your hand to get on the bus
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🧳 [busan only: oversized luggage is not allowed on buses]
Attention, passengers heading to Busan! Busan City buses have explicitly stipulated that "large suitcases are prohibited from being brought on board" (the size must not exceed 50 × 40 × 20 cm, approximately equivalent to the size of a 20-inch carry-on suitcase).
The purpose is to maintain safety and smooth passage inside the vehicle. If your luggage is too large, the driver may refuse you to get in.
✅ take the subway, taxi or airport bus instead.
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📶 [free Wi-Fi is available in almost every car!]
Most urban buses in South Korea offer Free Public WiFi, usually named "Public WiFi Free", and most of them can be used without a password.
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🚌 [The color of Seoul buses has meaning. Recognize the color and check the route]
The city buses in Seoul come in several colors, each with its own functions:
🔵 blue (간선버스) : trunk bus, long-distance travel on main urban roads
🟢 green (지선버스) : feeder bus, connecting the subway to the community
🔴 red (광역버스) : wide-area bus, connecting the capital area such as Suwon and incheon
🟡 yellow (순환버스) : Circular bus, running in a specific area in a loop
These colors will also be marked on the bus itself, bus stop signs and the App for faster identification.