Seoul Transportation Tips by kgurl

'Mode': TO,AROUND
Category: Bus
Getting TO/AROUND: Gimpo International Airport, a gateway to Seoul, connects the capital city with other countries in the world. About 34.65 million passengers use the Airport annually, with an average of 100 thousand passengers and 620 flights a day, one flight every minute.

Korea has established aviation agreement with as many as 53 countries around the world, and as of May, 1999, a total of 71 routes were in service by 30 airlines from 15 countries. As the Gimpo Airport has reached the full capacity, the government has already started constructing a new international airport in Yeongjongdo, Incheon, to function as a hub in Asia, for a daily capacity of 270 thousand passengers and 920 flights.

Buses and taxis are major means of transportation to and from the Airport, which is in the western outskirts of Seoul. Limousine service between the Airport and major hotels in the City are convenient and available at reasonable prices.
There are seven passenger terminals and three freight terminals in Seoul. The passenger terminals include the Gyeongbu (Seoul-Busan), Yeongdong and Honam Express Bus Terminals in Gangnam, Dong-Seoul (East Seoul) Integrated Terminal, Sangbong Terminal, Nambu (North) Terminal, Seobu (West) Terminal and Yongsan Tourists Terminal, where buses bound for all the directions in Korea depart incessantly. Freight terminals include Dongbu Freight Terminal, Hankook Truck Terminal and Seobu Truck Terminal.

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'Mode': AROUND
Category: Other
Getting TO/AROUND: Subway is the most important means of transportation in Seoul. The subway in Seoul was inaugurated on August 15, 1974, for the 7.8km section between Seoul Station and Cheongnyangni Station.

Currently, the Seoul subway system is made up of Lines 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8. Eight subway lines and a surface line of the government-run Korean National Railroad (KNR) merging with them serve Seoulites and visitors most effectively. Colored differently between lines, Seoul subway lines link the farthest parts of Seoul and its satellite cities and cross each other at various transferable stations, marked by the symbol.

In general, subway trains operate at intervals of 2.5 to 3 minutes during the morning and evening rush hours, and at intervals of 4 to 6 minutes during the non-rush hours.

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'Mode': AROUND
Category: Bus
Getting TO/AROUND: Fares can be paid with either cash, or a bus card as you board. To stop the bus at your destination, push one of the stop buttons located along the length of the bus.

There are three kinds of urban buses running in Seoul City: City, City Express and Deluxe Express. The City Express Buses are referred to as 'chwasok' and are more comfortable than City Buses. City Buses are referred to as 'ilban' bus. These are numbered according to their specific routing. Since destinations are written only in Korean (Hangul), it is best to know your bus routing and number in advance. You may get assistance from your hotel front desk to find out where the bus stops are and which number you need to take.

And there is one more kind of bus called 'Maeul Bus' that is a kind of a shuttle bus. It is run with a short-distance service course in the residential area that doesn't have a convenient transportation including a subway or a bus. Usually these buses are smaller and cheaper than the normal buses. Since the transportation card is not available for these Maeul buses yet, bus fares have to be paid in cash.

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'Mode': TO
Category: Train
Getting TO/AROUND: The train service in Korea is provided and operated by the Korean National Railroad (KORAIL). Tourists can use this fast, safe and reliable service with very reasonable prices. Trains are operated by strict schedules, and there is no delay or traffic jam like traveling by automobile, so that you can get your destination on time at any time of the year. KORAIL's routes literally cover all over the country, and there are three kinds of trains being operated: the Super-Express Saemaeul-ho, Express Mugunghwa-ho, and Limited Express Tongil-ho.

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'Mode': AROUND
Category: Bus
Getting TO/AROUND: This bus is specifically designed for the city tour and expert tour guides who can speak Korean, English, Japanese, or Chinese accompany the tour.

A tour begins every 25 minutes at the bus terminal. Tourists with a day ticket can hop on and off an unlimited time from any bus at any of the designated tour-bus stops.

Tickets can be purchased with cash on the bus. The price isn't that much.

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