We took the AREX train from Incheon Airport directly to Hongik University. The cost was something like 3 bucks. This was particularly easy because of the excellent airport signage and helpful airport personnel directing us to the AREX entrance (even at 10:00 p.m. when we arrived in Seoul!). We purchased a 1 way ticket from the airport, knowing we were going to buy tmoney cards once we began using the subway the next day (which is a different system than AREX-but both accept tmoney cards....and we didn't see a tmoney machine at the AREX entrance). Since Hongik University was the station where we were meeting our host, I don't think it could have been any more convenient. AREX runs between Incheon Airport and Seoul Station. Seoul Station is a cluster mob of crazy activity and we learned rather quickly to avoid it as a transfer hub between subway stops. We did whatever we could to avoid Seoul Station because it is had so much coming and going from it that it reminded me of Medusa's snake head with all of the curly, intertwining things coming out of it! (We learned all of this the night we went to Namsan Tower for dinner and had to make an unfortunate transfer here.) Ok, back to our arrival......Hongik University is also on subway line 2 (the green line), which in imho, is the BEST subway line to use in Seoul! It gets you to Olympic Park, Gangnam, Lotte Dept. Store, Dongdaemun Design Plaza, and Lotte World! Line 2 was our main point of entry and exit every day in Seoul and we became very attached to it. I must say, line 2 holds a special place in our hearts!
In Atlanta, we have this pathetic subway thing called Marta. It is pretty much a train that runs north and south and east and west. Atlanta should be embarrassed by Marta. Marta ain't got nuthin' on Seoul, or NYC, or Paris....I'm just saying. Now Seoul, they GOTS a subway. I'm talking the real deal. The grand poo-ba of all subways.
The easiest and most cost effective way to use the subway is to purchase a t-money card at a convenience store. Every subway station has a convenience store located somewhere near the entrance. With your t-money card in hand, you can then go to a card loading machine and add money to it. Teppy and I both added 50,000 Won to our cards the first day we arrived in Seoul. This is equivalent to $50 US dollars. This card lasted us for the entire 3 weeks and was good for transportation in Seoul AND Busan! The card even worked on the bus the night we took it up to Namsan Tower. What was awesome is that we had just enough left on it to get us to the airport on the Arex when we left South Korea. Each time you swipe your t-money card to get on the subway or bus, it gives you your remaining balance, so you always knew how much you had left. I LOVE T-MONEY CARDS!!!!!
The Seoul subway is easy to navigate thanks to an amazing subway app. I'm sure there is a bus app that is just as amazing, but being that we had already made up our minds to use the subway, we became a bit biased and relied solely on the beauty of the subway. ( Even the prime minister in The Prime Minister and I used the subway.) Underground Seoul is an intricate maze of subway stations connecting the city from point A to point B, creating a wonderland that would leave Alice envious. Not only does the Seoul subway system have enough room to house a 3rd world country, but it has an impressive array of retail and food going on inside. One could exist in the subway and never come above ground. Did you read the City of Ember by DuPrau or The Giver by Lowry? Both novels had underground cities cloaked in darkness. While the subway system is anything but dark, it does provide one with the basic necessisites of life as do the cities in the novels. I bought jewelry down there, along with a really pretty green sweater, and, I had a drink at a Paris Baguette coffee shop. I also bought ice cream, tea, sandwiches, sweet potato bread and Coca-cola from various convenience stores. ALL UNDERGROUND. In addition to being air conditioned, the subway system also provides emergency equipment in the event of a bomb or air raid. Gas masks and accessories are packed into cages at the entrances/exits to the subway ready to be used in the event of a catastrophic event. They sure do plan ahead in Korea!
Some observations about the Seoul subway: 1) We mostly noticed young people using the subway. By young, I mean people in their 20's. On occasion, we did see older people, but the MAJORITY of folks were 20ish. 2) People seemed to be in a hurry ALL THE TIME. I can't tell you how many times we got run over by people flying like bats out of hell to get somewhere. We just wanted to smell the roses and meander. NOT HAPPENING IN THE SEOUL SUBWAY STATION. Get the lead out of your butt and be prepared to move if you don't want to get run over. Just a heads up. 3) You could be an alien, have 4 heads, and naked and nobody would notice. Everyone seemed to be glued to their personal device and wearing headphones, so all they noticed was what was going on 5 inches from their nose. In a city so crowded, everyone pretty much ignored each other. 4) If people did notice us, they did their best to sit or stand as far away from us as they could. Seriously. If we were sitting on the bench next to a South Korean person and another seat opened up on the other side of the subway car, they would get up and move away from us. I know we didn't stink and we definitely weren't trying to talk to people, but they certainly went out of their way to avoid us. Like the plague. Like a fungus covered piece of cheese on the playground. I'd appreciate insight as to why that is.....anyone? 5) There are a heck of a lot of stairs getting to and from the trains. We loved it when there were escalators, but they weren't always avaialable and darn it, those stairs kicked our butts. I am happy to report that we both lost weight while in Seoul and I know it was because we were never served bread with our meals (you ever notice how EVERYTHING in America comes with a side of bread, or on bread?) and because we climbed 10,000 stairs a day using the subway.
The bottom line is that we LOVED the Seoul subway experience. If we ever go back, we are most definitely going to ride the rails underground. The subway cars were always clean, air conditioned and had English signage. We also liked that we stayed fit while on vacation! In addition, the shopping was fun and affordable and the bathrooms had soap on a stick for pleasant hand washing ventures. Did I mention that we LOVE T-money cards?