Tips and Tricks of Taking the Bus in South Korea as a Foreigner
- Sarah Matumbura
- 6 days ago
- 10 min read
Updated: 12 minutes ago
By: Sarah Matumbura
"The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only one page."
In South Korea, there are many ways to get around. Some examples include taxis, ride shares, biking, walking, trains, subways, and buses. Since moving here I've discovered how many foreigners develop a deep anxiety when it comes to taking the bus, as a result they end up mainly relying on the subway to get around. To help open up the world of transportation options, I've helped develop a foreigner’s guide to taking the bus—stress-free. Once you've become a bus-taking pro, people might even mistake you for a local!
The following are some awesome tips and a detailed guide for taking the bus in South Korea.
Step 1.......
Transportation
cards
First of all, transportation cards, also known as T-Money cards, are widely used for public transportation and other transactions in Korea. They are a simple and convenient way to pay for buses, subways, taxis, and even make purchases at select stores—without using cash.
You can purchase T-Money cards at convenience stores such as 7-Eleven, CU, and my personal favorite, GS25. For transportation purposes, T-Money cards are widely accepted throughout the country. "Topping up" refers to adding money to your card. You can top up your card at almost any convenience store or subway station using recharge machines.
Most T-Money cards cost around 3,000 KRW, but prices may vary depending on the design. If you want to be a little bit more fancy, there are a lot of other options like wrist bands, clips and cool character key chains like the following. They are not only cute, but offer some convenience so that you don't have to dig through your wallet or bag for your card every time you need it.
Protip: GoWonderfully is a great resource to help with online research and shopping in South Korea. If you struggle with Korean language or with online payment systems, they make it super easy. All you have to do is send a message and tell them what you're looking for and they order it for you.
Step 2......
There are two crucial apps you need when taking the bus. The first one is NAVER Map—it's similar to Google Maps, but specifically tailored to South Korea. The number one rule when traveling locally is: use Korean apps. They are far more accurate and reliable than their foreign counterparts. Google Maps and Apple Maps often fall short in terms of navigation accuracy and public transportation support within South Korea. NAVER Map, on the other hand, is highly dependable and offers full English support, helping to eliminate the language barrier for travelers.
Papago is a translation app designed specifically for Korean and other languages. It’s incredibly useful when taking the bus, especially if you come across signs, announcements, or instructions written only in Korean. Papago can translate text, photos, and even spoken words, making it a versatile tool for navigating unfamiliar routes or reading bus stop names. It’s especially helpful when riding buses that don’t have full English translations.
Step 3.....
Here’s what you’ll see when you first open NAVER Map: One cool feature is that at the top of the home screen, the app recommends restaurants, cafes, convenience stores, CVS, and other nearby attractions. It’s a great way to discover local spots while exploring.
Above the recommendations is the search bar, where you’ll enter the address of your destination. Tip: Follow the pink arrow for guidance!
You can click on the search bar—this is the page that will appear.
In the search bar, enter the address or name of the location. If it's a well-known place (e.g., Jamsil Stadium), you can simply search by name. Otherwise, you can enter the full address (e.g., 19-2 Olympic-ro, Songpa District, Seoul).
Pro tip: If you ever need help making a dinner reservation or ordering food at a popular restaurant, GoWonderfully is a great resource. As an on-demand English speaking personal assistant service, you can get affordable support for almost anything in Korea. For recommendations of some great restaurants, check out this article.
This is the next page that appears. Double-check that it’s the location you want to go to. If it’s correct, click the name written in blue.
This page is very useful and provides a lot of information about the place you're planning to visit. It includes reviews, photos, nearby stores, and other details about the location. You can even call the location, check prices, and explore much more.
Once you’ve decided that this is the place you want to go, click the blue button at the bottom and get ready to start commuting to your destination.
Pro tip: If your Korean skills are not so strong, GoWonderfully can help with calling on your behalf.
As you start your commute, please use the blue dot as a reference for your general location. Sometimes it might jump around, but just give it a few seconds to relocate. In general, don’t rely solely on the blue dot—look around for signs at the bus stop or on the bus to make sure you're heading in the right direction.
Once you click “To,” this is the next page you'll come to. The green dot shows your starting location. You can either enter the address manually or turn on your location in the app, and NAVER will automatically detect where you are.
Below the locations, the app provides different commute options. For example, from my location to Jamsil Stadium, it might suggest a combination of bus and subway, just a bus route, taxi, walking, or even biking.
For bus-only options, click on the "Bus" tab shown in the picture.
Once you've fully mapped your route, it’s time to put on your shoes and start walking! When using the app, it will show you which direction to go and how far you need to walk. Pay close attention to make sure you’re heading the right way. Keep an eye on the blue dot and stay aware of your surroundings.
This is what most bus stops look like, especially in big cities in South Korea such as Busan and Seoul. Make sure you're on the correct side of the road. As mentioned before, double-check using the blue dot and nearby stores as landmarks.
Pro tip: If you somehow still feel lost or turned around, the agents at GoWonderfully can help. They are quite creative at problem solving so whether you need them to call you a taxi or help decipher your location, it's as simple as sending them a message.
Most bus stops have signs like this either at the stop itself or somewhere nearby. First, find the specific bus you're taking. If it's not listed, check the surrounding area thoroughly. If you still can't find it, double-check that you're on the correct side of the road.
Once you're in the right place, find your bus number and check the list of stops. Make sure your destination is listed. Sometimes these signs aren’t translated, so use the Papago app to translate them if needed.
To use Papago simply open the app and click the word "Image." Take a picture of whatever you need translated, then tap the button labeled "Text on IMG." Just like that, it will translate the text from Korean to English (or any other language).
It’s also pretty easy to tell how far away your bus is. At the bus stop, just look at the sign for your bus number—the number next to the Korean words shows how far away your bus is. You can also check on the app. NAVER tells you how far the bus is in both minutes and stops. This is also where you find out which bus to take.
For example, in the picture to the right, I needed to take bus 740 to the stadium. There are two buses coming: one arrives in 10 minutes, and the other in 14 minutes. The bus arriving in 10 minutes is also 7 stops away. Most of the time, buses in big cities come every couple of minutes, while buses in smaller cities in South Korea take a bit longer. So, it’s a good idea to check your destination and bus schedule before you leave.
Lastly, at the bottom of the picture, marked with a red arrow, is the estimated length of your bus ride. For my trip, it’s 44 minutes or 18 stops.
Once the bus arrives, make sure to check the color and number on the bus itself. The app will tell you the correct bus color and number, so be sure you’re getting on the right one.
Once you enter the bus, you’ll see a T-Money tap-in machine located right beside the bus driver. Please be advised that the bus driver usually starts driving almost immediately after the last person taps in, so make sure you’re holding on to something before the bus begins moving.
Once you enter the bus, you can look for a seat. Make sure you don’t sit in the seats reserved for pregnant women or the elderly, even if the bus is empty. You should sit in one of the regular seats unless you belong to the categories designated for the reserved seats.
Depending on the bus color, your destination, and the time of your journey, the buses may be crowded, and you might have to stand instead of getting a seat. If you travel around 9 a.m. or 6 p.m., buses are more likely to be packed because that’s when most people start and finish work. So please be prepared for this. If you’re not used to standing, a bus ride during rush hour might feel like a roller coaster.
Most buses in Korea have monitors that display the name of the next stop in both English and Korean. If the monitor only shows Korean, use Papago to translate the stops, keep track of how many times the bus has stopped, and follow the blue dot on NAVER Maps. Additionally, the bus has a speaker that announces stops in both English and Korean. Whether it’s the monitor, the speaker, or by the app, you’ll be able to tell when your stop is approaching.
When your stop is the next one approaching, press the stop button to signal the driver that you want to get off. The stop buttons are located next to the seats and near the bus exits.
Before you leave the bus, don’t forget to tap out. If you tap out within 10 km, you’re charged the base price for the ride. For most buses, if you travel over 10 km, you’ll be charged an additional 100 KRW for every 5 km traveled.
If the bus has two doors, use the front door (first door) for entering and the rear door (second door) for exiting. For example, in the image above, you would enter through the door marked with the yellow arrow and exit through the door marked with the pink arrow. This makes boarding and exiting much more efficient. If the bus has only one door, you can use it for both entering and exiting.
Once you’ve exited the bus, you’re almost at your destination. Just a short walk, and boom—you’ve become a bus-riding pro! The walking distance between the bus stop and your destination may vary depending on where you’re going. In this example, I’d have to walk about 18 minutes to reach the stadium, where I can relax and enjoy a baseball game.
Pro tip: Speaking of baseball, if you need help buying tickets, GoWonderfully can assist. I highly recommend the section where the cheerleaders are if you love pep rallies. For more information about baseball tickets, check out this article.
Also, feel free to mix routes between bus and subway—it might be faster, though a little more complicated.
Taking the bus may seem hard and a little scary at first, especially if it’s your first time navigating a new city’s transit system. But with these tips and tricks, you’ll become a pro in no time. Remember to take your time, stay patient, and pay close attention to the signs around you. Use all the tools available like local map apps and translation apps to guide you every step of the way. Lastly, don’t hesitate to ask for help if you need it—locals are often friendly and willing to assist.
GoWonderfully is staffed with bilingual personal assistants dedicated to helping foreigners save time and reduce hassle. Our time-based service offers affordable support charged by the minute - with no monthly membership, no commitments, no hidden transaction fees and you can
cancel anytime. Chat instantly with professional assistants to get anything done quickly and seamlessly.
GoWonderfully is the best on-demand English-speaking virtual assistant service in South Korea. Serving the expat community for nearly 10 years we've maintained the highest customer ratings on both Google and Facebook.
Don't let language barriers or unfamiliar surroundings hold you back from exploring South Korea's hidden treasures. Let GoWonderfully be your guide to a seamless and unforgettable adventure.
Regarding our pricing, we charge for the time taken working on your request by the minute, for as low as 1250 KRW per minute, depending on your preferred pricing package. If interested in our service, you can reach us on Facebook, Kakao Talk, WhatsApp, Instagram or Email.
You might also find these links useful:
Annyeonghaseyo :) My name is Sarah Matumbura and I'm current a rising senior studying Criminal Justice and Accounting with a minor in Philosophy at Hartwick College. For 8 weeks, I'll be working as the marketing intern here at GoWondefully and what an experience this is. Since moving to South Korea, I've learned to appreciate the little things. I appreciate the buses coming every five minutes, I've grown to love all the cute little designs that are literally everywhere, and I've come to value every excursion—whether big or small. At first, riding the bus felt different, but different doesn't always mean bad. Now that I've learned the "language" of the bus system, I feel like I can go anywhere, do anything, and see everything I've wanted to see. Don't let fear stop you from exploring the wonders Korea has to offer. Don't be afraid to just go. Remember: "Not all those who wander are lost." So explore until your heart is content.
Best wishes,
Sarah Matumbura <3
