Seoul Station subway congestion: When is the busiest time for Lines 1 and 4?

Seoul Station data must be viewed separately for Lines 1 and 4.

In this data, Seoul Station is recorded as station number 150 on Line 1 and station number 426 on Line 4. Since each line has separate routes on weekdays, Saturdays, and Sundays, and for inbound and outbound lines, they are not combined into one “Seoul Station overall congestion map.” This is because if you combine routes and directions, you will miss the difference in the flow of going to and from work.

The time interval of the raw data is from 5:30 to 00:30 in 30-minute increments. The numbers below are not the real-time status or number of people waiting at the platform on a specific day, but are the result of finding the highest congestion value in each time series provided. Please refer to this when planning your travel or work, but when choosing a train for the day, real-time guidance should be given priority.

• Unit of comparison: day of the week, route, upper and lower lines, 30-minute time period
• Seoul Station Line 1: Station number 150
• Seoul Station Line 4: Station number 426
• Source file: Seoul Transportation Corporation_Subway congestion information.csv

Weekday Line 1: The highest departure time is 8:30 for the merchant line, and 18:00 for the disembarkation line.

The highest value for commercial lines on Seoul Station Line 1 on weekdays is 90.7 at 8:30. The value rises in the morning, reaching a peak at 8:30, and then falls thereafter. On the other hand, the highest value of the disembarkation line is 126.9 at 18:00, which is 36.2 higher than the highest value of the merchant line. The key point is that even at the same station and on the same weekday, the busiest times are different depending on the direction.

If you need to make an appointment or transfer using Line 1 at Seoul Station, check the direction you need to take first rather than simply lumping it into “commute hours.” In particular, disembarkation around 18:00 on weekdays is the highest point of Seoul Station Line 1 in this data, so if you have a tight schedule with a tight transfer time, it is better to leave room for one or two trains.

• Highest commercial line on weekdays: 8:30 p.m. 90.7
• Highest disembarkation of Line 1 on weekdays: 18:00 · 126.9
• Highest difference between the two directions: 36.2

Line 4 on weekdays: highest at 8:00 for boarding and 18:00 for disembarking.

On weekdays, the highest value for the Line 4 merchant line at Seoul Station is 62.5 at 8 o'clock, and the time is 8 o'clock. Disembarkation was the highest at 56.6 at 18:00. Like Line 1, the highest value appears in the morning for the upper line and the evening for the lower line, but in the provided Seoul Station records, the highest value for Line 4 is lower than that for Line 1.

This comparison should not be interpreted as “Line 4 is always convenient.” The aggregate unit of data for each route, the actual train interval, and the experience of platforms and transfer passages may differ. At Seoul Station, even Airport Railroad and KTX users can gather in the aisles, so use the congestion figure as a reference value for the flow within the train and secure travel time within the station separately.

• Weekday Line 4 Merchant Marine Highest: 8:00 · 62.5
• Highest disembarkation of Line 4 on weekdays: 18:00 · 56.6
• Lines 1 and 4 both have morning and evening peaks depending on the direction.

Peak hours at Seoul Station are delayed on weekends.

On Saturday, Line 1's merchant line is at 67.1 at 11:30, and the disembarkation rate is 70.5 at 16:00. Line 4 had the highest at 66.1 at 13:30 for the merchant line and 51.7 at 17:30 for the disembarkation line. Unlike the morning and evening commuting peaks on weekdays, the peak times on Saturdays appear to have shifted from late morning to afternoon and evening.

On Sundays, Line 1's merchant line is at 37.2 at 10:00 and disembarkation at 44.7 at 18:00, and Line 4's merchant line is at 46.3 at 12:30 and disembarkation at 31.6 at 18:00. Weekend figures do not guarantee direct comfort compared to weekdays, but it is a reason to compare departure times once more when including Seoul Station in your tourist/return route.

• Best Saturday: Line 1 merchant ship 11:30, disembarkation 16:00
• Best Saturday: Line 4 merchant ship 13:30, disembarkation 17:00
• Highest on Sunday: Line 1 merchant ship: 10:00, disembarkation: 18:00
• Best on Sunday: Line 4 merchant ship 12:30, disembarkation 18:00

The least crowded time is considered separately from 0 and whether or not it is running.

The raw data contains rows with 0.0 written after midnight. This value may mean that it is comfortable with fewer passengers, but you should also check the end of service or operating conditions in that direction. So, in the data source for this article, the lowest value including 0 and the lowest value comparing only values ​​greater than 0 were stored separately.

For example, on weekdays, the lowest in-service value for Seoul Station Line 1 is 1.3 at 0:30, and the lowest in-service value is 8.6 at 0:00. However, the time of the last train and whether it will actually run should not be determined based on these numbers alone. If you plan to travel late at night, check the same-day operation notices for routes actually used, such as Seoul Transportation Corporation, KORAIL, and Airport Railroad.

• The minimum is not a “guaranteed empty seat”.
• 0.0 must be checked together with the possibility of the end of the trip.
• For late-night travel, information on the last train of the day takes priority over time zone data.

How to apply to Seoul Station transfer schedule

If your plan is to transfer from the Airport Railroad or KTX to Lines 1 and 4, do not just add the train time, but also include the travel time within the station. If you plan to disembark Line 1 on weekdays around 18:00, it overlaps with the highest point of this data, so it is safer not to make a last-minute transfer. Line 4 also has peaks in each direction, so you need to check the next station and destination when you arrive at the platform.

For travelers, it is better to compare the number of transfers, walking, and baggage to the destination rather than which of Line 1 or Line 4 is lower. If you have luggage, a route with fewer stairs and long aisles may be more practical than a route that's a few minutes faster. Congestion data is used to adjust departure times, but is not the answer to automatically determining the optimal route.

Calculation criteria and limitations of this article

This article selected 12 records related to Seoul Station (Lines 1 and 4 In case of a tie, I created a derived JSON to record all applicable time zones.

The data does not include sections of other rail operators at Seoul Station, real-time train locations, or congestion on aisles inside the station. Therefore, we have not determined the cause or congestion prediction. When a new CSV is released, the value may change with the same calculation, and you must check the official guidance and on-site electronic signboard before actually moving.