🚇 Getting Around

Compare T-money, the Climate Card, trains, subways, taxis, eSIMs, SIM cards and other options for getting around Korea.

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Subway
How to ride subways in Seoul, Busan, Daegu, Daejeon and Gwangju, from your transit card to the right exit.
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🚌
Bus
Find your stop, board the right bus, pay, transfer and get off without getting lost.
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🚕
Taxi
How to call, ride and pay for a taxi, even without speaking Korean.
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🚄
Train / KTX
Pick the right station, book, read your ticket, board and get off, with KTX and other intercity trains.
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🚍
Intercity Bus
Find the right terminal, book your ticket and board the right bus between Korean cities.
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🛫
Domestic Flights
Which airport to use, how to book and board, and how to connect from an international flight.
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💳
Transportation Cards
Tmoney, EZL, Climate Card or WOWPASS: which one to get, where to buy it, how to load and use it.
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🗺️
City-to-City Travel
Choose where you start and where you go, and see whether a train, bus, flight or ferry is the easiest way.
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📱
Essential Apps
Maps, transport, taxis, trains, translation, restaurant bookings and emergencies: choose the right app for each situation in Korea.
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eSIM vs SIM Card vs Pocket Wi-Fi

SK Telecom / KT / LG U+

eSIM (Digital SIM)

Unlimited 5G / LTE (Full Speed)

Best for: Unlocked modern smartphones (iPhone XS+, Galaxy S20+, Pixel 3+)

Pros:

Instant digital delivery via QR code sent to email (no physical pickup needed)
Keep your home primary SIM active for SMS bank verification codes
No risk of losing tiny physical SIM cards
Activates automatically upon landing at Korean airport

Cons:

Requires carrier-unlocked phone supporting eSIM
Most tourist eSIMs are data-only without Korean voice number (unless upgraded)

Estimated Price:₩12,000 (3 days) ~ ₩35,000 (10 days) ~ ₩60,000 (30 days)

SK Telecom / KT / LG U+

Physical USIM Card

Unlimited LTE / 5G + Local Korean 010 Number

Best for: Travelers needing a local Korean phone number for restaurant queuing (Catch Table, Tabling) or deliveries

Pros:

Comes with incoming Korean 010 phone number (receive SMS & calls free)
Allows reserving popular restaurants with waiting kiosks
Compatible with almost all unlocked GSM phones
24/7 pickup at Incheon, Gimpo, and Gimhae Airport arrival halls

Cons:

Requires swapping physical SIM card
Must keep original SIM safe

Estimated Price:₩18,000 (5 days) ~ ₩38,000 (10 days) ~ ₩71,000 (30 days)

KT / SKT / LG U+ / Dosirak Wi-Fi

Pocket Wi-Fi (Wi-Fi Egg)

High-speed LTE (up to 20Mbps-100Mbps)

Best for: Groups of 2 to 4 people, families, laptop & tablet users

Pros:

Connect up to 5 devices simultaneously to one portable router
Extremely economical when split among friends or family
Unlimited high-speed data without throttling
Airport pickup and drop-off available 24/7

Cons:

Must carry device and remember to recharge battery daily (8-10h battery life)
Must return hardware at airport upon departure

Estimated Price:₩3,300 ~ ₩4,400 per day

Free Public Wi-Fi in Korea ("Public WiFi Free")

South Korea provides free government-backed public Wi-Fi on nearly every city bus, subway car, major tourist attraction, and public park. Look for SSID network names: Public WiFi Free or Public WiFi Secure.