Why you should use only one transportation card when transferring subway buses: Payment and tag check

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

Before leaving home, select a transportation card to use for transfers and check the balance and payment status. If you use a mobile phone transportation card and a physical card alternately, or borrow a companion's card, it can be easy to get confused as to which card records your boarding and exiting, so it is safer to use only one method for one trip.

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

The Seoul Transportation Corporation's fare information informs that the integrated fare benefit can only be received when using a transportation card. Additionally, since you must touch the card to the terminal when getting on and off, even if you use the same card, if the disembarkation record is missing, you may not be connected properly to the next means of transportation.

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.

When transferring to the subway after getting off the bus, listen for the recognition sound on the terminal and tag the same card at the ticket gate. When leaving the subway and boarding a bus, passing through the turnstile is the key to disembarking, so be careful not to go through the wrong turnstile or exchange cards with your companion while looking for another exit.

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

Situations where one person charges multiple people's fares on one card, switches to a physical card due to low cell phone battery, or uses a different payment method due to insufficient card balance can complicate transfer records. If individual or card-specific application methods are necessary, it is best to check the official guidance from the card company and operating institution and not arbitrarily process it on site.

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

If you are traveling with a group, prepare each person's credit card and mobile phone transportation card before departure, and check children's and youth discount cards separately. If there is a possibility that your balance may be insufficient, recharge it before departure rather than during your transfer. If the estimated payment amount is different, check your card usage history first to check which card was used for which section.

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.

• Use the same transportation card for one transfer
• Check balance and cell phone battery before departure
• Check terminal contact every time you board or get off
• Do not exchange cards or cell phones with your companions.
• Check abnormal payments by checking the usage history of each card.