Efficient Metro System
It is easy to get around Seoul as it has a very efficient metro system. During our entire trip, we only used the metro to get to the places of attractions. This is because most of the attractions are within walking distance of the metro stations.
Seoul Subway Map
You can see the English subway map here.
For an interactive subway map, click here. I found this site to be quite handy when I was planning the trip. This is because I could just input the station name and it would be shown on the interactive map. Considering that the metro system has 18 lines with hundreds of stations, this was a super useful function!
T-Money Card
We used the T-Money stored value card as we felt it was the most suitable for our needs. Below is a breakdown of the various stored value cards for your information:
A. T-Money: This is a stored value card that can be used for the metro, public buses, taxis and convenience stores. After you’re done with the card, the balance can be refunded with a 500 KRW service charge. It can be purchased at convenience stores inside the airport.
B. M-Pass: Also known as a Metropolitan Pass. The card offers 20 bus and metro rides a day for the duration of the pass. The durations are one-day, two-day, three-day, five-day and seven-day. Like the T-money card, it can also be used on taxis, public buses and convenience stores. The remaining balance can be refunded with a 500 KRW service charge. It can be purchased at the Seoul Tourist Information Centers in front of Gates 5 and 10 on Level One of the airport.
C. Single Journey: This is a one-time-use card that can only be used for the metro. It can be purchased at the vending machines near the All Stop Train gantries.
Map of Seoul
Above is a map of Seoul to give you a better sense of the various districts in Seoul.