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๐ŸšŒ Bus

Find your stop, board the right bus, pay, transfer and get off without getting lost.

This page explains city buses.
Airport limousine buses, intercity buses and express buses between cities work differently and are covered elsewhere. Airport Transportation โ†’

Bus in Korea: 6 simple steps

  1. 1
    Search your destination
  2. 2
    Find the correct bus stop
  3. 3
    Check bus number and direction
  4. 4
    Board and tap your card
  5. 5
    Press STOP before your stop
  6. 6
    Tap again and get off

Most city buses in Korea work the same way: board, tap your transit card, press the stop button, tap again, and exit.

Remember these five things

Check the direction

The same number can run the opposite way.

Use a transit card

Easier than cash, and better for transfers.

Tap when boarding

Front door, card on the reader.

Press STOP

Before your stop, not after.

Tap when exiting

Rear door, card on the reader again.

๐Ÿ“ What do I do now?

Tap where you are right now.

Before you ride

๐Ÿ’ณ Transit card

A rechargeable card such as T-money, or another compatible Korean transit card, is the easiest way to ride. Card compatibility can vary by city and service.

๐Ÿ“ฑ Navigation app

Bus information is usually most detailed in Korean local navigation apps. Compare the route number, stop name and direction before you board.

๐Ÿ“ถ Mobile data

Arrival times change live, so an eSIM, SIM or Wi-Fi makes buses much easier.

Compare transportation cards โ†’Learn how to buy and reload a T-money card โ†’

Step by step

1

Search your destination

DO THIS
Search in your navigation app and pick a route with the bus icon.
LOOK FOR
๐ŸšŒ Bus only ยท ๐Ÿš‡+๐ŸšŒ Subway + Bus
Do not rely on one map app alone. Compare the route number, stop name and direction before you board.
2

Find the correct bus stop

DO THIS
Walk to the stop on the right side of the road for your direction.
LOOK FOR
Bus number ยท Stop name ยท Stop ID ยท Next stop
Important
The same bus number can stop on both sides of the road, going opposite ways. Check the direction before you board.
EXAMPLE: BUS STOP SIGN
BUS STOP
๋ช…๋™์—ญ
Myeongdong Station
Stop ID: 02134
  • 1042 min
  • 4215 min
  • 4639 min
104
= bus number
2 min
= estimated arrival time
02134
= stop ID
Myeongdong Station
= stop name

If two nearby stops have similar names, compare the stop ID shown in your route information. The numbers above are an example.

3

Check the bus before you board

DO THIS
Match three things before stepping on.
LOOK FOR
Number ยท Destination on the front display ยท Route in your app
Do not rely only on the bus color. Always check the route number.
Seoul bus colors
  • Blue ยท Trunk bus
    Long routes along main roads and into the city center.
  • Green ยท Branch bus
    Links neighborhoods with subway stations and trunk buses.
  • Red ยท Rapid / metropolitan bus
    Connects Seoul with surrounding areas.
  • Yellow ยท Circulation bus
    Loops through central districts.

Color helps, but the bus number matters more.

4

Board and tap your card

DO THIS
Let people off first, board by the front door, tap, then move inside.
LOOK FOR
๐Ÿ’ณ Card on the reader, then a beep
REAR DOOREXITFRONT DOORBOARDBus travels this way โ†

Most city buses: board at the front, exit at the rear. Check the doors on your bus, because some routes differ.

Tap when you board
Hold your transit card on the reader until you hear a beep.
5

Press STOP before your stop

DO THIS
When your destination is the next stop, press a red STOP button.
LOOK FOR
๐Ÿ”ด Stop button ยท Stop requested (ํ•˜์ฐจํ•ฉ๋‹ˆ๋‹ค)
EXAMPLE: STAY ON TRACK
  1. Myeongdong Station4 stops to go
  2. Euljiro 2-ga
  3. Jongno 2-ga
  4. Jongno 1-ga
  5. GyeongbokgungNEXT: PRESS STOP NOW
Buses may skip a stop when nobody wants to get off or board. So the bus needs your STOP signal.
Stay safe
City buses start, stop and turn quickly. Stay seated or hold a handrail until the bus stops. Keep luggage out of the aisle and doors.
6

Tap again and get off

DO THIS
Tap your card on the reader near the rear door, then step out.
LOOK FOR
๐Ÿ”ด Stop button โ†’ ๐Ÿ’ณ Tap out โ†’ ๐Ÿšช Rear door
Tap again when you get off
Tap your card before leaving the bus. This is what completes the fare and any transfer discount.

Bus transfers

With a transit card, many cities give a discount when you change between bus and bus, bus and subway, or subway and bus. Rules vary by city, route and operator.

  • โœ“ Use the same transit card
  • โœ“ Tap when you board
  • โœ“ Tap when you get off
  • โœ“ Transfer within the allowed time
  • โœ“ Keep the trip continuous
Best habit everywhere: tap when boarding AND when getting off.
See Seoul transfer rules
  • Use a transit card and tap when you get off.
  • The next ride must usually start within 30 minutes of getting off. Between 21:00 and 07:00 the time is extended to one hour.
  • Up to four transfers are covered (five rides in total).
  • Getting back on the same route does not count as a transfer.

City guides

Seoul

Many bus types and a very dense network. Big central stops are shared by many routes, so check number and direction every time.

Trunk / branch bus
โ‚ฉ1,500
Rapid / metropolitan bus
โ‚ฉ3,000
Village bus
โ‚ฉ1,200
Circulation bus
โ‚ฉ1,400
Late-night bus
โ‚ฉ2,500

Payment: Use a transit card such as T-money. Some routes run cashless, so do not count on paying cash.

Seoul tip: tap when you exit. Most transfers must begin within 30 minutes of getting off.
Official site: Seoul Metropolitan Government
CityRecommended paymentAdult regular bus fareImportant point
๐Ÿ™๏ธ SeoulTransit cardโ‚ฉ1,500Tap out for transfers
๐ŸŒŠ BusanTransit cardโ‚ฉ1,550Cash costs more; no transfer discount with cash
๐ŸŽ DaeguTransit cardโ‚ฉ1,500Tap the rear reader when exiting
๐ŸŒณ DaejeonTransit cardโ‚ฉ1,500Cashless; buses reach beyond the metro
๐ŸŒฟ GwangjuTransit card strongly recommendedโ‚ฉ1,250Cashless bus system

Regular adult city-bus fare with a transit card. Express, seat, metropolitan, night and village buses cost different amounts. Fares can change, so check the cityโ€™s official page.

I only have cash

Do not assume every bus takes cash.
Some cities run cashless buses, and where cash is accepted it can cost more with no transfer discount.
Best option
Buy a transit card at a convenience store, load it with cash, then ride. Do this before you go to the stop.

Something went wrong?

Wrong direction?

Get off at the next stop. Then find the stop for the opposite direction, using a pedestrian crossing. Never cross a wide road away from a crossing.

I missed my stop

Press STOP, get off at the next stop and check your app. Walk back or take a bus the other way. Do not ask the driver to stop between stops.

I have no transit card

Do not assume every bus takes cash. Buy a card at a convenience store, load it, then ride. In Gwangju and Daejeon this matters most.

My bus did not arrive

Traffic, a detour, a service change or a missed last bus can all cause this. Recheck the route, or use a different bus or the subway.

The last bus has gone

Check the last bus before you set out at night. If it has gone, try a night bus, the subway if it still runs, or a taxi.

Right number, wrong direction
Bus 421 can be the right number and still go the wrong way. Check the number, the stop ID, the direction and the next stop.
Arrival times are estimates
Traffic changes arrival times. Allow extra time during weekday rush hours.

Night, luggage and accessibility

๐ŸŒ™ Late-night buses

Some cities run night buses. Routes are limited and fares can be higher. Last-bus times vary by route and direction, so check your route again before a late trip.

๐Ÿงณ Traveling with luggage

Do not block the aisle or doors. An airport limousine bus is usually easier than a city bus with large suitcases.

โ™ฟ Wheelchair or stroller

Some routes have low-floor buses, but not every vehicle is the same. Check whether a low-floor bus is running on your route.

Words you may see or hear

KoreanMeaning
์ด๋ฒˆ ์ •๋ฅ˜์žฅ์€This stop is
๋‹ค์Œ ์ •๋ฅ˜์žฅ์€Next stop is
ํ•˜์ฐจํ•ฉ๋‹ˆ๋‹คStop requested
๊ตํ†ต์นด๋“œ๋ฅผ ๋Œ€์ฃผ์„ธ์š”Please tap your transit card
์ž”์•ก์ด ๋ถ€์กฑํ•ฉ๋‹ˆ๋‹คInsufficient balance
ํšŒ์ฐจBus turning around / terminating
์ข…์ Last stop / terminal
์šดํ–‰ ์ข…๋ฃŒService ended

๐Ÿ—ฃ๏ธ Show this to the driver

Pick your destination, then show your phone.

Bus FAQ

Do buses in Korea accept foreign credit cards?

Do not assume an overseas Visa or Mastercard will work on the bus reader. Use a compatible Korean transit card unless the payment method has been confirmed.

Can I pay cash?

It depends on the city and the bus. Some buses take cash and some systems are cashless. A transit card is the safe choice.

Do I need to tap when I get off?

Yes. Make it a habit, especially if you want a transfer discount.

When should I press the stop button?

Press it after the bus leaves the stop before yours, or as soon as your destination becomes the next stop.

What if I miss my stop?

Get off at the next stop and work out your route again in your navigation app.

Can I bring luggage?

Small luggage is usually fine if it does not block people. Large suitcases are awkward on crowded city buses. An airport limousine bus is easier.

Do buses announce stops in English?

Major routes and cities often have English information, but it varies. Follow your route on your phone as a backup.

Can several people use one transit card?

On Seoul buses it can be done if you tell the driver the number of riders, but it limits transfers. For visitors, one card per person is much simpler.

Official information

Schedules, fares and rules can change. Always check the official operator before you travel.

Information last verified: 2026-10-07 ยท Updated: 2026-10-07

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