Getting Around

Your school will usually arrange for someone to meet you at the airport and bring you wherever is deemed necessary after your arrival (your school, temporary housing, or your new apartment) so you needn't worry too much about that. It is also kind of fun to come through the arrivals door & see someone waiting with a sign bearing your name. (Although it was creepy to have the guy take hold of my cart and usher me towards his van & whisk my boyfriend & I off without really being able to speak a word to us about what was going on - good thing we knew Koreans are pretty harmless!)



After your initial drop off you will need to get around on your own. Everyone's situation is a little bit different based on where you are located but I will try to list some basics (& more specifics when possible).



To start here is a general site for transportation from Korean Tourism:

http://www.knto.or.kr/enu/TR/TR_EN_5_1_1.jsp



*T money cards - are essential to getting around & will make your life so much easier. They look like a credit card in size and shape & can be purchased at any convenience store. The first time you must of course purchase the actual card (2,000 won maybe?) and add money onto it (we usually do it in 10,000 won increments but its up to you really).

- These reusable/refillable cards can be used on the buses, subways and even in taxis!

- Your rate is discounted (at least on the buses) by using them. For example: Bus rate is 1,800 won... your rate will be 1,700 won.

- You are also able to get free transfers within a half hour. So if you take a bus into Seoul, get off & take the subway, you aren't charged anything!

http://www.knto.or.kr/enu/TR/TR_EN_5_4.jsp

~Buses~

*Buses in Seoul typically will have the routes in both English & Korean at bus stops. The buses may even say in English/Korean on the front where they begin & end. Outside of Seoul this isn't as common but it happens sometimes.

-The last buses typically run around midnight.

Here is a great site for bus information - and actually says much of what I was going to list here in a very organized & we'll written manner so I will just refer you to them!:

http://www.lifeinkorea.com/information/trans/buses.cfm

*Some specific information on buses in Namyangju (Hopyeong / Pyeongnae especially) in the Gyeonggi Provence section.



*Airport buses run from all over the country to both Incheon & Gimpo airports. There are many websites listing the buses, their stops, prices, times but I like this one:

http://www.airport.kr/airport/traffic/bus/busList.iia?flag=E&fake



And because I am in Namyangju, and was given NO help with things like this I will provide a link specifically for those traveling from this area to the airport (the bus starts in Maseok & the second stop is for Pyeongnae - if you are in Hopyeong you will use this stop as well. It is directly underneath the only footbridge crossing the main road from "Seoul" through Pyeongnae & into Hopyeong):

http://www.airport.kr/airport/traffic/bus/busView.iia?seq=205&flag=E

~ Subway ~

Seoul subway maps are pretty easy to come by, and you will most likely have a guidebook when you arrive which has something to start you off. A website with a good Seoul subway map:

http://www.smrt.co.kr

Heres a list of subway stops for places you may want to go but aren't labelled as such:

Samseong (Line 2 - green line): COEX

Anguk (Line 3 - orange line): Insadong

or Jongno 3 (sam)-ga (intersecting stop of Line 1, 3 &5): Insadong (Anguk stop is easier to find Insadong from)
Hoehyeong (Line 4 - light blue line): Namdaemun
Dongdaemun History & Culture Park (Line 1 - dark blue line): Easiest access to most Dongdaemun markets

Yeoksam (Line 2 - green line): Tomatillo Mexican Restaurant (Exit 2 go into Gangnam Finance Center down two flights on escalators) *Maybe not huge on people's lists but they have great Mexican!

Myeongdong (Line 4 - light blue line): Easiest access to Namsan & North Seoul Tower (as well as some really great shopping!)