60-minute rule for subway and bus transfers after 9 p.m.: Check before traveling late at night

Please organize “destination, direction, and payment method” separately before transferring.

For late-night travel, check whether the last subway or bus is actually running before departure. Even if you have transfer time remaining, you will not be able to continue your journey if the next means of transportation is cut off, so it is important to save the time of the last train and the contact information for alternative means of transportation and lodging.

Transferring isn't just about matching the route number. You must check at once the station you will get off at, the direction of the next train, the route you will take within the station, and whether you can continue to use the same transportation card. Especially if you have an appointment or are traveling on the last train, it is better to not just look at one recommended route in the map app, but also compare routes with different numbers of transfers and walking sections.

Fares and transfer rules should be read as actual travel conditions

According to the official information, the basic time allowed for getting off from the first mode of transportation and boarding the next mode of transportation is 30 minutes, and from 9 p.m. to 7 a.m. the next day, it is 60 minutes. This rule presupposes the use of a transportation card and contact with the boarding/disembarking terminal, and if you exceed the time limit, it may be processed as an independent pass.

The Seoul Transportation Corporation's fare guide also presents conditions such as use of transportation card, disembarkation tag, and authorized time for subway and bus transfers. Since the base fare and distance surcharge may vary depending on the route used and the type of bus, use this article as a guide to understanding the principle, and check the actual payment amount with the official information on the departure date and card usage history.

At large transfer stations, double check your directions.

At night, the walking time between the station exit and the bus stop may feel longer than during the day, so set aside time to find the stop after passing through the turnstiles. Rather than rushing right before the last train, it is better to compare the availability of the next bus, taxi, or walking in advance, and prioritize safe main roads and official boarding locations.

Immediately after getting off the train, rather than running with the flow of people, it is easier to get out of the way and check the line number, color, next station, and destination in order. At stations with long transfer corridors, you should not only look at the platform arrival time, but also include waiting time for the next train and walking time to the destination exit in your schedule.

Typical mistakes that ruin transfer discounts and travel time

Typical mistakes include thinking that all transfers are automatically guaranteed for an hour at 9 p.m., or tuning only to the last train and skipping the bus drop-off tag. Also, do not consider the waiting time in the subway and the recognized bus transfer time as the same, but check from the actual get-off time to the next boarding time.

If the fare turns out to be higher than expected or you catch a train in the opposite direction, don't just rely on memory; check your card usage details, boarding/disembarking times, and current station. On days with construction, events, congestion, or train delays, your usual shortest route may not be the most convenient, so it's a good idea to save alternative transfer stations or other modes of transportation in advance.

Practical methods to apply to the day’s schedule

When returning home after a late-night appointment, don't just save one route; prepare an alternative route in case you miss the last train. It is safe to check your cell phone battery and transportation card balance in advance, and to use station staff, official information signs, and official taxi boarding locations in unfamiliar places.

If you need to transfer multiple times, it is safer to check only the next section after getting off each time, rather than trying to memorize everything on the first section. Since your phone's battery may be low or communication may be unstable, keep a note or capture of the departure station, transfer station, arrival station, destination address, and alternative means of transportation when the last train is close.

Pre-departure checklist

If you check the items below first, you can reduce time and fare variables in the transfer process. Actual train operation, station construction, elevator equipment status, and fares may change, so give priority to the station electronic display board and official information from the operating organization just before departure.

• Check the get-off time and next boarding time based on 60 minutes
• Adhere to the conditions of the transportation card and get-off tag
• Check the last subway and bus trains
• Enter nighttime walking time to stop
• Save alternative transportation options when you miss the last train