Do Seoul Subway-to-Bus Transfers Cost Extra?
CONNECT ON Inc. · How we verify · sources read SEP 6, 2026
Highlights
The short answer
Any traveller using a transportation card in Seoul can transfer between the subway and a city bus without paying twice for the trip: the transfer is free up to a set distance, and it stays discounted well beyond that on certain route types. The base fare for a card-paid ride is 1,550 KRW, checked carefully against the current Seoul Metro fare and transfer listing.
Getting Around · Subway · Bus · TaxiPhotograph: K Travel Way
Does transferring between the subway and a bus cost extra in Seoul?
Not within the free distance limit. Transfer between bus and subway is free up to 10km, and up to 30km for Seoul metropolitan, Gyeonggi Express and Nonstop, and Incheon Express and metropolitan buses; the highest basic fare among the modes used is applied
What's the base fare I'm paying for this?
₩1,550
What if my transfer goes beyond the free distance?
Once you're past the free-transfer distance, an additional distance-based fare applies rather than a flat transfer fee; the exact extra charge depends on how far beyond the limit you travel.
Does this apply to a single-journey paper ticket too?
The free-transfer rule described here applies to transportation card payment; this page does not confirm the same terms apply to a single-journey paper ticket.
Questions people ask
Do I need to tap again when transferring from the subway to a bus?
This page does not detail the tap-in/tap-out mechanics of a transfer; the confirmed fact is that the fare itself is free within the distance limit when paid by transportation card.
Sources
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