Everything you need to know about riding a subway in Seoul with babies and kids

If you haven’t ridden on the subway in Seoul… then get excited. It’s easily my favorite subway system I’ve been on. It’s SO CLEAN, incredibly easy to navigate, and crazy affordable!!! IT HAS IT ALL (except for maybe consistent elevators, which we will get to later…). I really can’t recommend it enough.

We found public transportation so convenient that we opted to go car-less the first 2+ years we lived in Korea. And once we had a car, it was often just as easy to hop on the subway train (parking can be stressful and $$ in some neighborhoods).

After many attempts (some more disastrous than others), I eventually figured out how to successfully cart my baby (and as years passed, my baby-turned-preschooler + second baby) around this massive Asian city via subway trains. I’m here to give you all the tips and info I wish I’d had when I started to navigate the Seoul subway system as an expat mom.

First Things First:

In order to have a successful trip, you’ll need to make sure you’ve got 3 THINGS ready to go.

1. Single trip fare, OR T-Money Card

In order to ride the Seoul subway, you’ll need either a single ride paper ticket OR a reloadable, reusable T-Money card. I’d highly recommend getting the T-money card if you’re going to be in the city for half a day or longer. They are easy to purchase at the large kiosks inside the subway stations. You can select ENGLISH as a language option, if needed, and go from there.

It’s very user-friendly, but be aware that you can’t reload a T-money card with your credit card… you need Korean won (cash) or coins for that. MAKE SURE TO CARRY KOREAN WON FOR WHEN YOU NEED TO LOAD BACK UP! You can do this at the large kiosks at any subway station.

Subway fare is about 1250 won to 1550 won ($1 or so) for a one way trip. It’s on the higher end (1550) during peak hours, or for an extra-long train ride. I feel like it’s a very good value, as far as city trains go.

Pro tip: T-money cards also can be used on Seoul city buses, taxis, and select other city subway trains (like Busan), making them a really great investment and a helpful tool to have in your back pocket…literally.

2. A physical Seoul subway map or Seoul subway App

Unless you have a photographic memory, I’d suggest you have a Seoul subway map with you during your time on the train. Many train cars have a small or large map posted up high by the hand rails…but many do not! The stops are always announced verbally, but it’s just really helpful to know how close the current stop is to your final destination, or be able to confirm where you’ll need to transfer. Phone service can be spotty underground so make sure everything is downloaded ahead of time.

A screen shot of the Seoul subway system is better than nothing, but I highly recommend using one of the Seoul transportation apps. Read about my favorite Seoul subway app I used in this article about useful apps to have in Korea!

The travel apps can give approximate travel times and ETAs which is great to know when trying to make it home for nap time or deciding to feed your baby before or after the long train ride.

When you’re with little ones it’s obviously harder to pop out of the train quickly when needed, or hop to the other side of the car to get a closer look at the map way-up-high. With a loaded-down stroller or multiple children it can be a production to get on and off so study the map and have the stops just before your final destination in your mind as a heads-up to start packing up and positioning to exit.

3. Things to Entertain your Little One

So… as you likely know, Seoul is a massssssive city. In terms of population but especially in terms of geography. It goes in each direction forever, it feels like! It would take a solid hour or longer of train time (not even including walking on either end!) to get from my station in Jamsil over to neighborhoods in west Seoul.

So… as you ALSO likely know, most toddlers don’t LOVE sitting still for an hour – or heck, for fifteen minutes! Planning ahead with some little storybooks, stickers, or favorite small toys will pay off for sure.

To Baby-wear or to Stroller: that is the question

Listen… people have strong opinions about this stuff. It’s going to be personal preference. Most Koreans baby wear their babies. (I tried and failed to make that statement less Captain Obvious). I loved using my wrap or Ergo when my kids were newborn-nine months or so. After that, they get pretty heavy when you carry them AND a diaper bag/purse of some kind for extended periods of time.

The major pros to baby-wearing on the subway:

1. you are taking up minimal space and being courteous of other passengers
2. you maximize control over who is touching your baby (although COVID helped this issue dramatically)
3. you are flexible and able to walk up stairs, no need to search out elevators or deal with carrying a stroller

The major pros to bringing your stroller on a subway:

1. You can bring lots of stuff without hurting your back!
2. your little one has more space of their own to kick their legs and stretch out
3. See #1…it counts for about 5 😉

Stroller Tips

Seoul has really great elevators in the subway stations….until they don’t.

USUALLY at least one of the exits to the street will be an elevator exit. It probably won’t be the closest to your destination, but the back-tracking is sometimes worth not carrying or folding up the stroller.

Occasionally an exit to the main level will only be accessible by stairs. Be ready to fold that stroller or carry it on up!

On a few different occasions I had thoughtful strangers carry up a stroller with me, or even for me (when very pregnant). When my toddler was old enough I’d just make him walk up the stairs while I carried the folded stroller.

This is mostly a pain if you have a large jogging stroller or double stroller. And fair warning- people don’t love those because of how much space they take up in the subway station. It’s especially a pain if your stroller is loaded down with Costco goods or your little one has fallen asleep and you don’t want to disturb them! The former was a problem for me much more often than the latter due to my FOMO babies.

Sometimes, if escalators were there, I’d just go up with the stroller. This isn’t really safe or recommended, and doesn’t work at all if the escalator is very narrow (maybe half are), or if there’s a pole in the middle of the entrance or exit preventing anything large to come through.

Elevators are more common south of the river, and in larger stations.

A WORD ON LIGHTNING-FAST DOORS!

WARNING: Doors often close VERY QUICKLY in Korea! Move like you are on a mission. This is true for elevator doors, and also those turnstile-style entrances when you are transferring from one line to another.

Often when entering/exiting or transferring you walk through the 3-part metal rotating turnstile you walk through but some stations (like Sports Complex, for example) don’t have them. It looks like you can walk straight through after tapping your card, but the huge barriers pop out like angry ninjas if you take too long….BE SWIFT!

The subway car doors shut relatively quickly as well. Practice getting on and off quickly with your children and have a game plan for if the worst happens, and you are somehow separated from them.

Cultural Norms to Be Aware of

Be seen and not heard: Whereas some subway trains I’ve ridden in America are quite lively & moderately loud, QUIET is appreciated on the trains here. This is of course somewhat situational- I’ve seen groups of teenagers chatting and laughing, or evening trains that had more excitement happening. But generally speaking, it’s considered rude to be talking loudly to someone near you, or to be chatting on your phone.

Be seen and not sick: Even before COVID-19, masks were encouraged for those with any cold symptoms at all. Blowing your nose and coughing on the train are frowned upon.

Be seen and not smelled: Do not bring bananas, eggs, or anything aromatic! This feels like common courtesy everywhere, but it’s especially frowned on in Korea.

Along with that, ANY food or drink is really discouraged in the train cars. From what I gathered from local friends, little kids get a pass for this one if needed. I regularly gave my kids water in their sippy cups and something not-messy and not-smelly for a snack on longer train rides: sticky (not crumbly) granola bars, small (non crumbly) crackers or pretzels, applesauce pouches, and dried fruit worked pretty well for us.

Finally, try to keep your feet (and your children’s feet!) off of the seat. This is hard on the longer trips with little ones… their dangling legs get uncomfortable! It’s the respectful thing to do if possible.

You can expect unhappy looks if you violate any of these cultural subway taboos! Once I knew the importance of these norms, I was eager to comply. Unfortunately you can’t always convince babies and toddlers to keep quiet 😉 but just do your best.

Best Times of Day to Ride

Ride the subway at off-hours with young children, if possible. It gets VERY crowded during peak commuting hours- about 7-9 am and 4-6 pm. I tried to take our stroller mid-morning and return by early afternoon, when the train cars are much less claustrophobic. This is both for ease of getting a place to sit and out of courtesy to not take up precious room in the subway car. It’s a difference experience to ride a subway car at 10:30 am with all the retirees- much more chill than rush hour madness.

BUT Seoul subway cars are exceptionally safe and well-lit well into the night. Korean children stay awake quite late typically, and I often saw young children out and about at 8, 9, and 10 pm. So if you have a night owl and feel up to braving the crowds, you could certainly go for it.

Where to Ride on the Subway

If you have a stroller, it’s best to ride in the subway cars dedicated for strollers or wheelchair accessibility, shown in the photo below. Some seats are removed, so there’s more space to park your wheels.

If you can’t make it to the stroller or wheelchair cars, then at least stay in the chairs dedicated for elderly/young children/ injured (as seen in the cover photo!)

Tips for Pregnant & Nursing Moms

Feel free to sit in the pink pregnant seats if you are expecting, even if you aren’t showing yet! You can get pink sticker badges at your local government “gu” or “dong” office. TBH I never went and got one, but only rarely had a problem with the seat being occupied when I needed it. I had many nice strangers offer me the seat, especially when I was clearly showing.

Sometimes I was OK standing, but in winter the train cars are heated well and it got realllyyyy toasty and made me feel more light-headed. This is when I really felt a need to sit down.

Feel free to tap someone that is… very likely NOT pregnant, but sitting there anyways. Technically it’s a priority situation where anyone can sit there until a pregnant woman needs it, but sometimes passengers fall asleep rather than keeping an eye out for anyone that may be pregnant and needing a seat.

Nursing & Baby Care Rooms

If you need to breastfeed, bottle-feed, or change a diaper in private, nearly every station has a mother’s room. Some are kept locked, but you can ask a worker to unlock it for you. I never saw a Korean mom breastfeed on a train (or elsewhere in public, come to think of it), BUT that shouldn’t stop you from feeding your baby however you need to!

Enjoy It!!

I hope you enjoy riding the Seoul subway trains with your little ones. My boys found the subway trips thrilling. Their favorite parts were the subway loudly zooming into the station, or the above-ground stretches with the huge windows providing views of the Han River. Their excitement made the whole drudgery of getting from point A to point B pretty delightful most days.

Despite very weak language skills, my children and I were able to connect with so many Koreans of all ages and life stages through our subway rides together. Parenting, grandparenting, and the caring of children is such a universal experience. I really got the sense that we understand one another and are rooting for each other. I feel sentimental just thinking about it!

I hope this info is helpful and builds your confidence in getting out and adventuring with your little ones via the subway in Seoul! Check out these articles about navigating life in Seoul, too!