Travel Tips for Korea: Using Various Public Transportation at Seoul Station (Subway, Bus, Taxi Stand Directions)
Seoul Station is a central transportation hub for those traveling around Seoul or heading to the metropolitan area. It connects all forms of transportation, including the Airport Railroad, subway, and buses. However, if it's your first visit, navigating through its complex structure can be challenging. This guide will provide directions on how to transfer between the Airport Railroad, subway, and buses within Seoul Station.
Table of Contents
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1. Understanding the Structure of Seoul Station
Seoul Station is closely connected or directly linked to various transportation modes, including trains (Gyeongbu Line, Gyeongui-Jungang Line), the Airport Railroad, subway lines (Line 1, Line 4), as well as bus stops and taxi stands.
- Airport Railroad: Located on the basement level (B2). It has a separate entrance.
- Subway: You can take Line 1 and Line 4. You can either go outside the station or use the connected passageways from the train platforms.
- Bus Stop: Accessible through the Seoul Station Bus Transfer Center.
- Taxi Stand: Located at the Seoul Station Bus Transfer Center or in front of Exit 15.
2. How to Get to the Airport Railroad from Seoul Station
To use the Airport Railroad from Seoul Station, head to the A'REX exclusive area on the basement level (B2).
2-1) How to Get to the Airport Railroad from the Train Platforms
If you arrive at Seoul Station by train, when you go up one level from the train platforms, you will first find the following exits
Go out through the exit and turn left.
There are guide lines marked on the floor leading to the Airport Railroad, so it shouldn't be difficult to find.
If you follow the guide lines, you'll find an entrance like the one in the photo below.
Enter through that entrance and take the escalator going down directly in front of you.
If you have a lot of luggage or find it difficult to use the escalator, you can follow the path to the left of the escalator to access an elevator.
Once you've gone down one level, you'll need to take another escalator on your left. Keep in mind that the Airport Railroad is located quite deep underground, so you'll have to use more escalators than expected. If you have a lot of luggage, it’s recommended to use the elevator for safety.
Navigating to the Airport Railroad within Seoul Station is actually straightforward thanks to the well-marked guide lines and signboards.
However, if you arrive at Seoul Station by subway, finding your way to the Airport Railroad can be a bit tricky. Some travelers may even head straight to the Seoul Station platform and then follow the directions mentioned above to reach the Airport Railroad.
For those who might find it confusing, the following detailed directions should be helpful.
2-2) How to Get to the Airport Railroad from the Subway Station at Seoul Station
If you’ve arrived at Seoul Station via subway, you’ll need to head toward Exit 1. For those coming via Line 1, simply go up one level. However, if you’re on Line 4, make your way toward Exit 1 of Seoul Station.
Important! Do not pass through the ticket gates! If you do, you’ll need to follow the directions provided in section 2-1.
Once you’re near Exit 1, before passing through the ticket gates, check the pillar signboards. You'll notice that the directions to the KTX and the Airport Railroad are opposite each other, as shown below.
Follow the signboards and walk along the path to the left of the ticket gates without passing through them. As you continue, you’ll come across the path leading to Line 4.
At this point, you’ll notice another path between the ticket gates and the route to Line 4, as shown below.
Think of it as heading toward Exit 15, which should make it easier to find your way. As shown in the photo, this path connects the subway to both the Airport Railroad and the train platforms.
Following this path, you'll find conveyor belts installed to help those with heavy luggage easily navigate the stairs. Feel free to use them, but note that the conveyor belts move quite slowly. If you're in a hurry, you might be better off carrying your luggage and moving quickly.
As you continue along the path, you'll spot an unmanned convenience store. This store serves as a landmark where the paths diverge—one leading to the Airport Railroad and the other to the train platforms.
If you follow this path, you'll safely reach the Airport Railroad.
3. How to Go to the Subway from Seoul Station
Now, I will guide you on how to get to the subway from Seoul Station. At Seoul Station, you can use either Line 1 or Line 4. Do you think it's too easy? Surprisingly, many people don't know the tips for transferring to the subway inside Seoul Station.
3-1) Passage to the Subway inside Seoul Station
When I explained how to get to the Airport Railroad, I mentioned that you can see the exit after going up one level from the train platform.
This time, instead of passing through the exit, continue straight ahead to the right after passing the exit.
If you go to the far right, you will see the path leading to Platform 4. As indicated on the sign above, it is marked as the way to the subway. Take the escalator down.
You will see the subway sign and the ticket gate on the right. Please note that you can also purchase subway tickets at the ticket gate. (However, some cards, cannot be recharged at Korail stations, so please keep that in mind.)
This route is ideal if you need to catch the subway quickly or want to avoid crowded areas. Once you exit Seoul Station and head to the subway, it can be very crowded, so you need to navigate through the crowd. I think this is a good option for those who want to avoid such stress.
3-2) How to Go to the Subway When You Have Lots of Luggage (Using the Elevator at Seoul Station to Go to the Subway)
If you have a lot of luggage and need to get to the subway from Seoul Station, using the elevator is the most convenient option. It’s also a helpful tip for those who find stairs or escalators inconvenient. Since I’ve mentioned the photo of the train platform at Seoul Station a couple of times, I assume you’re familiar with it, so I won’t include it again. When you go up one level from the train platform, you will see the exit. This time, instead of going toward the Airport Railroad, exit in the opposite direction and head to the right.
Head toward Exit 2.
When you exit from Exit 2 and go straight, you will see an escalator on the right that leads down to the subway.
The elevator is located to the right of the escalator, but it is somewhat hidden behind a pillar, so not many people use it. However, since you need to take two long escalators consecutively to get to the subway from Seoul Station, if you have a lot of luggage, it’s recommended to use the elevator for safety.
If you take the elevator, you will see that the buttons are labeled for the 3rd floor. If you just got on the elevator after exiting Seoul Station, you can consider it as the 2nd floor.
For those heading to the subway, press the B1 button. If you are heading to the bus transfer center or the taxi stand, press the 1st floor button. If you're taking the train or want to go to Seoul Station, press the 2nd floor button.
If anyone wants to use the elevator from the 1st floor, you can easily find it by looking for Woori Bank. It is located to the left of Woori Bank, right next to the escalator.
4. How to Go to the Bus Transfer Center and Taxi Stand from Seoul Station
To reach the taxi stand and the Seoul Station Bus Transfer Center, simply exit through Exit 1 or Exit 2, and as explained in the subway section, take the escalator down just once. If you exit through Exit 1, you will need to use the stairs, but the path is clearly visible, so I won’t explain it in detail.
As explained in 3-2, after taking the escalator down, you will encounter another escalator. At this point, do not take the escalator again; instead, exit to the right.
If you exit to the right and head toward the main road, you will see the Seoul Namdaemun Police Station building. From the direction where the building is facing, if you turn right,
You will come to a crosswalk leading to the bus transfer center and the taxi stand. The taxi stand platform number is 1.
The bus platforms vary depending on which bus you are taking, so be sure to check the platform number and go to the correct one. In some cases, you may need to cross the crosswalk multiple times.
The picture above shows Platform 5. Be sure to check the sign to confirm which bus arrives at which platform, and take care to avoid waiting at the wrong place to prevent any mishaps.
5. Other Tips
5-1) How to Go to the Subway from the Bus Transfer Center
At the innermost platform of the bus transfer center, Platform 6, there is a passage that connects to the subway. Please note that there is a direct route from the bus platform to the subway. The corresponding subway exit is Exit 9-1.
5-2) Hidden Taxi Stand
In addition, there is another taxi stand. Personally, I use the taxi stand located on the west side of Seoul Station (Exit 15) more often than the one near the bus transfer center. The road is less congested, and since it is primarily used by Seoul residents rather than tourists.
If you exit through Seoul Station's Exit 15.
If you cross a small crosswalk, the taxi stand will be on the left, just past the crosswalk on the main road. Even if the line is long, it moves quickly, so you will be able to catch a taxi with just a little wait. In fact, this taxi stand is mostly used by people waiting for taxis called via apps like KakaoTaxi, Uber. so if you plan to hail a taxi, I recommend using the stand near Exit 15.
Seoul Station is a very efficient place to use public transportation. However, it can feel a bit complicated if you're visiting for the first time. By referring to the information provided in this guide, you will be able to move more easily to catch the Airport Railroad, subway, bus, or taxi. Wishing you a convenient and safe journey at all times.
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