Seoul subway transfer & exit picker
Generic Seoul subway apps show 3-5 minutes for a transfer. The real walking time between lines at Gangnam Station is 8-12 minutes. At Express Bus Terminal it's 14 minutes. This calculator adds realistic walking time, picks the right exit for your destination, and warns when you'll miss the last train.
Build your trip
Seoul's famous "long-walk" transfer stations
If you have a heavy suitcase, allow this much time between platforms:
| Station | Lines | Realistic transfer | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Express Bus Terminal (고속버스터미널) | 3, 7, 9 | 12-14 min | Line 9 is very deep |
| Gangnam (강남) | 2 / Sinbundang | 8-12 min | Different operator, separate ticket needed |
| Seoul Station | 1, 4 / AREX / Gyeongui-Jungang | 10-15 min | Multiple disconnected concourses |
| Yongsan | 1 / KTX | 10 min | Side trip to KTX hall |
| Sindorim (신도림) | 1, 2 | 7-9 min | Cross-platform easy |
| Gwanghwamun | 5 | 5-7 min | Pick exit early (Gwanghwamun Square is far from exit 5) |
What this solves
Google Maps and Naver both show "3 min" for transfers. The reality: each transfer at a major station adds 8-15 minutes once you account for stairs, escalator queues at rush hour, and platform distance. Multiply that across two transfers and you've added 30 minutes you didn't budget. Worse — the last train at 24:00 has no buffer for a slow transfer. This tool gives realistic door-to-door times and warns when you'll miss the cutoff.
How to read the result
- Trip summary — total minutes including walking to the first platform, transfers, ride, and exit to your destination.
- Last train warning — shown when the trip ends after 23:50 (last subway at 24:00 weekday, 23:45 weekend).
- Exit recommendation — uses the destination, not just the line. e.g. for Gyeongbokgung Palace, exit 5.
- Slow/fast pacing — 30% extra time for slow, 15% less for fast.
Limitations
- Weekday and weekend hours differ. Last train is usually 24:00 on weekdays, 23:45 on weekends/holidays.
- Lines 9 and the Sinbundang (purple line) run every 7-12 min in off-peak; rush hour 4-5 min. We assume off-peak.
- This tool does not model Line 9 express vs all-stop; express skips some stations and is faster.
- Stations outside Seoul (Busan, Incheon) are not in this dataset.
FAQ
How late does the last train run?
Weekdays 24:00 from origin (so 23:50 boarding needed); weekends/holidays 23:45. Friday's last train is 24:00, but the Saturday service begins at 06:00.
What if I miss the last train?
Use our late-night transport tool for N-bus, call-van and taxi options.
Are there express trains?
Line 9 has express service (gold stripe). All other Seoul lines are local only.
Can I use T-money across all Seoul subway?
Yes — except for AREX Express and Sinbundang Line's manual ticket (T-money works for Sinbundang Line too actually).
Sources
- • Seoul Metro official — seoulmetro.co.kr
- • Last-train time table — visitseoul.net