Overview
The Busan Metro is a modern urban rail system operated by the Busan Transportation Corporation, making Busan the second city in South Korea to have a metro network when it first opened in 1985. As a visitor, you'll find the system straightforward to navigate: directional signs at all stations are displayed in both Korean and English, and voice announcements in trains indicating the upcoming station, possible line transfer, and exiting side are all spoken in Korean followed by English. Station transfer announcements are first in Korean, followed by English, then Mandarin, and finally Japanese. Announcements at stations for arriving trains are in Korean, followed by English, then Japanese and Mandarin. All stations are numbered, with the first digit matching the line number—for example, station 123 is on Line 1. To ride end to end, you simply purchase a ticket or tap a transportation card at the entrance gate, board your train, and present your ticket or card again at the exit gate to leave the station. The system extends well beyond central Busan, with additional light rail lines connecting to neighboring Gimhae and along the coast toward Ulsan.
The network
The Busan Metro comprises four main numbered lines, supplemented by two light rail systems and a coastal rail service, together covering approximately 205.6 kilometres of route and serving 158 stations across the metropolitan area.
Metro lines
- Line 1 (1호선): The north-south route running 39.8 kilometres with 40 stations. This was the original line that opened in 1985, initially between Nopo and Beomnaegol, and has since been extended southward to Dadaepo Beach. Trains have eight cars each.
- Line 2 (2호선): An east-west line running 46 kilometres with 43 stations. It crosses Busan along the shores of Haeundae and Gwangalli beaches before heading north toward the neighboring city of Yangsan. Trains have six cars each.
- Line 3 (3호선): Opened in 2005, this 18.3-kilometre line serves 17 stations and was one of the first metro lines in the world to install platform screen doors at all stations. It uses 4-car trains and connects the Suyeong, Yeonsan-dong, and Deokcheon regions.
- Line 4 (Bansong Line, 4호선): A rubber-tyred automated guideway transit system opened in 2011, running 12.7 kilometres with 14 stations from Minam to Anpyeong. Of its 14 stations, 8 are underground, 1 is at ground level, and 5 are above ground. Trains operate with 6 cars, though each car is shorter than those on the other lines.
Light rail and commuter rail
- Busan-Gimhae Light Rail Transit (BGL): This light metro system connects Busan to the neighboring city of Gimhae and opened in September 2011. It comprises 21 above-ground stations and 2-car trains. The line includes transfer points to Line 3 at Daejeo and to Line 2 at Sasang, and provides access to Gimhae International Airport.
- Donghae Line: A coastal railway being upgraded for commuter service, running along the shore with trains departing every 30 minutes (15 minutes during peak hours). The line extends to Taehwagang Station in the neighboring city of Ulsan.
Tickets & fares
Single journey fares
For the four main metro lines, single ride fares are approximately 1,400 won within a short distance or 1,600 won for longer journeys (prices are approximate and subject to change). Tickets must be purchased before entering the station and retained until you exit, as they are required to leave the station. Getting caught without a valid ticket ("jumping the gate") results in a substantial fine.
The BGL and Donghae Line use slightly different fare systems. On the Donghae Line, the fare is 1,300 won for distances of 10 kilometres or less, with an additional 200 won for each further 10-kilometre increment, a 200-won surcharge for crossing the Busan-Ulsan border, and a maximum fare of approximately 2,500 won.
Tickets and smartcards
Tickets are sold at ticket vending machines in stations, most of which accept 1,000-won notes as well as coins. For frequent travel, the Hanaro Card (하나로카드) and Digital Busan Card (디지털부산카드) are transportation smartcards that offer a 10% fare discount to adults and a 20% discount to youth aged 13–18. Both cards are available in physical card format or as a more compact (though slightly more expensive) cell phone accessory format. The cards are equipped with microchips and are scanned by tapping them against sensor plates at station entrances and exits, allowing them to work even when kept in a wallet or purse. Hanaro Cards are sold at all stations for 2,000 won. Credit can be added to any pass at an "Automatic Charge Machine" (교통카드 자동 보충기) found at stations, with instructions available in English and Korean. These cards can also be used to pay bus fares and to make purchases at specially equipped vending machines throughout the city.
Other transportation cards such as Cashbee, T-money, and Railplus are also accepted on the metro and buses. Some convenience stores allow you to recharge cards, though not all card types are accepted at every location.
Multi-day passes and transfers
A one-day ticket for Lines 1–4 costs 5,000 won. Seven-day and 30-day tickets are also available for visitors planning longer stays. When using a transportation card, you can transfer between the metro, BGL, and Donghae Line with a discount; furthermore, if you scan out from the metro and scan into a bus within 30 minutes, the bus fare is reduced to 250 won. Conversely, scanning out from a bus and boarding another bus within 30 minutes also qualifies for a discounted transfer fare. There is no daily fare cap.
From the airport
Gimhae International Airport, serving Busan, lies outside the city and offers several public transport options for reaching central Busan. The most convenient option for most visitors is the Busan-Gimhae Light Rail Transit (BGL), which connects directly to the airport and provides access to central Busan via transfer points to the metro lines. The BGL meets Line 2 at Sasang Station and Line 3 at Daejeo Station, allowing onward connections throughout the city. Limousine buses and local buses also operate from the airport, as do taxis. Additionally, Gupo Station on Line 3 is the closest KTX (high-speed train) station to the airport, should you be arriving by train from elsewhere in Korea.
Alternatively, if arriving via Ulsan Airport (which serves the neighboring city of Ulsan), you can take a bus to Taehwagang Station and then ride the Donghae Line down the coast into Busan, though this journey takes approximately 1 hour 45 minutes to Songjeong Station.
Etiquette & customs
- Queuing and boarding: Always queue in an orderly fashion when boarding trains. Wait for passengers to exit before you enter.
- Escalators: While no specific side preference is documented for Busan escalators in the provided sources, it is customary throughout South Korea to stand on the left side of escalators to allow faster passengers to walk past on the right.
- Priority seating: Metro cars have specially designated seats marked with obvious green stickers reserved for elderly, disabled, and pregnant passengers. You may sit in these seats if you are prepared to give up your seat to someone who needs it.
- Eating and drinking: The provided sources do not specify restrictions on eating or drinking in Busan Metro cars; however, it is generally discouraged in Korean public transport.
- Luggage: Strictly speaking, passengers are not permitted to bring large bags onto the metro; however, as of 2024 this rule is not actively enforced.
- Photography: Photography in the Busan Metro is permitted.
- Rush hour: During peak travel times, trains are crowded and passengers are expected to move efficiently and make space for others to board and exit.
Survival terms
- 지하철 (Jihacheol): Subway/metro
- 표 (Pyo): Ticket
- 선 (Seon): Line
- 입구 (Ipgu): Entrance
- 출구 (Chulgu): Exit
- 환승 (Hwanseung): Transfer
- 편도요금 (Pyeondoyogeeum): Single fare
- 하루 이용권 (Haru iyonggwon): Day pass
Download a transit app or save the official Busan Metro website on your phone before traveling so you can check real-time train arrivals and plan your route even without a data connection.