Using the bus
Buses reach the places the subway doesn't.
Types
- City buses — within a region. Many cities use colours to indicate route type.
- Village buses — short local routes.
- Intercity commuter buses — between cities, often seat-only.
- Late-night buses — running in the small hours.
How to ride
- Check the stop and route in an app — Naver Map, KakaoMap. Arrival times are live.
- Raise your hand to flag the bus down. Otherwise it may pass by.
- Board at the front door and tap your card.
- Press the bell before your stop — press early as you approach.
- Tap again as you leave by the rear door. Don't forget.
Good to know
- Buses lurch when starting and stopping. Hold on tightly.
- Some commuter buses do not allow standing.
- Cash is accepted but change may not be available.
- If you don't know the stop name, show the driver your destination.
Where to go
- 1330 tourist interpretation line (24 hours, multilingual)
- Local government bus information (120 in Seoul and similar)
- 1644-0088 T-money
- 112 in danger
Questions people ask
I missed my stop. Get off at the next one and take a bus back, or walk.
I couldn't press the bell. Call out "내려요" to the driver. If you've passed it, get off at the next stop.
I don't speak Korean. Write your destination in Korean or show a map app screen. 1330 provides interpretation.
I fell and was injured on a bus. Buses are covered by mutual aid association insurance. Tell the driver and ask them to file an accident report. Keep hospital records.
Take care
Stand up only after the bus has stopped completely. Falls while the bus is moving are common. Always hold on in case of sudden braking.
Related
public-transport-card · subway-use · intercity-bus · traffic-accident
Source
Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport www.molit.go.kr / As of 2026-08