South Korea (KR)

South Korea is a high-income East Asian democracy with world-class broadband, dense public transport, export-led technology giants, sophisticated healthcare, a powerful popular culture sector and one of Asia's most convenient urban lifestyles for expats who can adapt to Korean-language administration.

Capital: Seoul

Region: Asia

Language: Korean

Currency: KRW (₩)

Cost of living: Moderate (index 65)

Emergency: 119

Getting Around

Transport options for living in South Korea.

Public Transport Overview

South Korea has dense urban transit. Seoul combines subway, bus, airport rail and regional trains under T-money/Cashbee cards; Busan, Daegu, Daejeon and Gwangju have their own metro-bus systems.

Main operators:

Seoul MetroKorailAREXKakao TT-moneyBusan Transportation CorporationSR/SRTKorea Expressway BusKTXITX

🎫 Transit Passes

T-money card 2,500-5,000 KRW card plus stored value

Most subway, bus, taxi and convenience store payments nationwide

💡 Essential first-week purchase; buy at convenience stores or subway stations.

Climate Card / Seoul commuter passes Around 62,000-65,000 KRW/month depending on bike option

Seoul subway and buses, with coverage rules changing by municipality

💡 Check 2026 eligibility before buying if commuting from Gyeonggi/Incheon.

Korea Rail Pass Varies by pass length

KTX and Korail trains for foreign visitors

💡 Useful for initial scouting trips but not daily commuting.

SRT tickets Dynamic by route

High-speed rail from Suseo to major southern cities

💡 Separate booking from Korail/KTX.

Taxi & Rideshare

Taxis are safe and metered. Use Kakao T, UT or local taxi apps; late-night surcharges and refusal issues can still happen in entertainment districts.

Rideshare (Long-distance)

Ride-hailing is regulated; Kakao T mainly dispatches licensed taxis. Private-car rideshare is limited compared with the US.

Cycling

Seoul Ddareungi bikes and riverside paths are useful, but traffic culture can be challenging. Helmets are recommended even where not strictly enforced.

Intercity Trains

KTX connects Seoul to Busan in about 2.5-3 hours; SRT, ITX, Mugunghwa and express buses fill gaps. Holiday tickets sell out fast.

Driving

Driving is on the right. Speed limits: 50 km/h in urban areas (30 km/h in residential zones and school zones), 80 km/h on national roads, 100 km/h on expressways. Navigation relies on Naver Map, KakaoMap or TMAP rather than Google Maps. Parking in Seoul is expensive and stressful.

Airports

Incheon International Airport is the main gateway, linked to Seoul by AREX, limousine bus and taxi. Gimpo handles many domestic and Japan/China routes.