How to Ride a Bus in Korea: Stop Buttons, Rear Doors and Transfer Rules

Quick answer: Board through the front door, tap your transportation card, press the stop button before your stop, tap again when getting off, and normally exit through the rear door. Use the same card for transfers. Quick Steps Check the bus number, stop and direction in NAVER Map or KakaoMap. Wait where the driver can see you. Board through the front door. Tap your transportation card once. Watch or listen for your stop. Press a red stop button before your stop. Tap the card reader again before getting off. Exit through the rear door unless the driver directs otherwise. Find the Correct Bus Stop Stops on opposite sides of the road may have similar names but serve different directions. Check the bus number, final destination, direction and stop ID. At large intersections, several stops can be separated by hundreds of meters. Board and Tap Your Card Most Korean city buses use the front door for boarding. Let passengers exit first when the bus is crowded. Tap one transportation card per passenger for the clearest fare and transfer record. If you must pay for several people with one card, tell the driver the number before tapping. This can make transfers more complicated, so separate cards are easier for visitors. Press the Stop Button Press a red stop button after the bus leaves the stop before yours or when your stop is announced. A light or sound confirms the request. One press is enough. 이번 정류장에서 내려요. Ibeon jeongnyujang-eseo naeryeoyo. I am getting off at this stop. Tap Before Getting Off Tap the same card at the reader near the rear door before exiting. This records the completed journey, calculates applicable distance charges and protects transfer discounts. Forgetting to tap may cause an extra charge later. Transfer Rules Use the same transportation card for the entire bus–subway or bus–bus journey. Tap when leaving the first vehicle or subway, then transfer within the permitted time. Time limits, fares and the number of discounted transfers can differ by city and time of day, so check the local rule shown by the route service. The same vehicle or route is generally not treated as a new discounted transfer. Do not assume that Seoul’s rules apply everywhere in Korea. Cash or Transportation Card? Some buses have reduced or discontinued cash acceptance. Even where cash is accepted, transfers and change can be difficult. A T-Money card or another locally accepted transportation card is the safest choice for visitors. Exit Safely Move toward the rear door before the bus reaches your stop only when it is safe, and hold a rail because the bus may brake suddenly. If the door does not open, say: 문 열어 주세요. Mun yeoreo juseyo. Please open the door. 내릴게요. Naerilgeyo. I am getting off. If You Miss Your Stop Stay calm, get off at the next safe stop and recalculate the route. Never try to exit while the doors are closing. 정류장을 놓쳤어요. Jeongnyujangeul nochyeosseoyo. I missed my stop. Common Mistakes Waiting at a stop for the opposite direction. Forgetting to press the stop button. Forgetting to tap when getting off. Holding several contactless cards against the reader. Assuming all cities use Seoul’s transfer rules. Related Korea Transportation Guides Complete T-Money Card Guide Find Bus Routes with NAVER Map 25 Things to Know Before Traveling to Korea Fares, cash acceptance and transfer policies may change. Confirm the route and local rules in NAVER Map, KakaoMap or the relevant city transportation service on the day of travel.