How to Survive Arrival in Seoul: Transportation, SIM Cards & Subway Hacks

You’ve landed at Incheon International Airport. You’re sleep-deprived, dehydrated, and possibly questioning your life decisions. Congratulations—you’ve made it to Seoul. Now what?

This isn’t a city that rolls out a red carpet for tourists. It rolls out… a T-money card and a maze of subway exits. But once you understand a few core systems, Seoul is one of the easiest megacities in the world to navigate.

This guide walks you through:

• Getting from the airport without getting scammed
• Buying a SIM card that won’t throttle your data
• Mastering Seoul’s subway (or at least faking it)
• And avoiding rookie mistakes that make locals sigh deeply through their masks

AREX train between ICN and Seoul. One of the easiest ways to get into the city.
Credit: Jason Kang (cc)

Step One: Escape the Airport

🛬 You’ve Got Two Airports—But You’ll Probably Land at Incheon (ICN)

Incheon is Seoul’s main international hub. Clean, efficient, and big enough to give your Apple Watch a meltdown. Immigration can take 10 minutes or 90—depending on how many people showed up with K-drama dreams that day.

NOTE: Incheon is outside of Seoul. It’s even outside of Incheon. You’ll still have to get into the city itself. Check the time tables below.

If you’re flying in domestically or from nearby countries, you might land at Gimpo Airport (actually not in Gimpo), which is closer to the city. But this guide assumes you’re at Incheon, because that’s where the chaos begins.

The Best Ways to Get to Seoul from Incheon Airport

SIM Cards, eSIMs & Wi-Fi: Internet or Die

Do you actually need a SIM card?

In short, I recommend it.

South Korea is technicalogically advanced, but it is also isolated. It primarily uses homegrown apps and banking solutions without considering that non-Koreans will want to use them too. As a result, a lot of apps, like the popular taxi hailing app Kakao T, require a Korean phone number in order to register them. That’s where a SIM card can save you a lot of headaches.

SIM Card Options (Airport or Preorder)

• KT, SKT, LG U+ all offer tourist SIMs.
• Airport kiosks are open late, but book online via Klook/Trazy to skip the “point and nod” mime game.
• Prices:
  • 5 days: ₩27,500
  • 10 days: ₩38,500
  • 30 days: ₩60,000
• Unlimited data, but some throttle speeds after 5GB/day. Tethering may be blocked on cheaper SIMs.

eSIM (Recommended If You’re Not Technophobic)

• Airalo, Ubigi, Nomad offer instant eSIMs for Korea.
• Prices are slightly cheaper. No physical swap needed.
• Downside: No Korean number = can’t use KakaoTaxi, some bank apps, etc.

Pocket Wi-Fi (a.k.a. The Egg)

• Shareable. Great for groups.
• Must be returned to the airport.
• Costs ₩3,000–₩8,000/day
• Do you want to carry another thing in your bag? Exactly.

Money, Cards & the T-Money You Actually Need

🪙 Currency

• Won (KRW) – current exchange is about ₩1,000 = $0.75 USD.
• ATMs are everywhere, but not all accept foreign cards.
  • Look for “Global ATM” at GS25, 7-Eleven, or Shinhan/KB branches.

💳 Cards

• Visa and Mastercard widely accepted.
• Amex? Good luck.
• Small restaurants or market stalls may be cash only.

💳 T-Money Card (Don’t Skip This)

This is your public transit magic wand.

• Buy it at any convenience store (₩3,000)
• Load cash onto it. No ID required.
  • IMPORTANT: Only cash is accepted. This is one of the few instances where Korea cannot accept credit cards.
• Use on subways, buses, taxis, vending machines, even some cafés.

⚠️ Warning: You cannot use Apple Pay or tap-to-pay credit cards for transit. This isn’t Tokyo. Don’t hold up the line like a confused tourist.

Seoul’s Subway: Yes, It’s Complicated. Yes, You Can Handle It.

The Basics:

• 23 lines. Over 700 stations.
• Color-coded and multilingual (English/Korean/Mandarin/Japanese).
• Incredibly safe. Incredibly clean.
• Trains arrive every 2–4 minutes.
• To be honest, it’s easier to use than most subway systems around the world. Give it a chance.

The Confusion:

• Each station has multiple exits, and they’re numbered like someone spun a roulette wheel.
• You don’t “exit at a station”—you “exit through exit 6, turn right, pass a Paris Baguette, and enter a side alley.”

Must-Have Apps:

• Naver Map (iOS, Android): The Google Maps killer. Real-time navigation with detailed subway exits.
• KakaoMap (iOS, Android): Also good. Pick your poison.
• Subway Korea (iOS, Android): Specific to subways, including platform info and train schedules.

Subway Etiquette:

• Don’t talk on your phone. Don’t speak loudly. Just… don’t.
• Priority seats are sacred. Sit there and grandma will cut you.
• Wait for people to get off before entering. This is not that hard.
• Don’t eat or drink, especially foods with strong odors or will make the subway car smell like a McDonald’s.

Taxis & Ride Apps (a.k.a. “Why won’t this taxi stop?”)

Hailing Taxis

• White, silver, or orange cars.
• Hail by holding the hand palm down and make a “come hither” motion, almost like you’re waving.
• Base fare ₩4,800.
• Good luck getting one in the rain or after 10 p.m.

Safer Bet:

• Kakao T (iOS, Android) – Korea’s version of Uber.
  • Works best with a Korean SIM and phone number.
  • Pre-set the destination. No arguing.
  • Can take a while in peak hours.
• International Taxi (Call 1644-2255)
  • English-speaking drivers. More expensive but reliable.
  • Best for airport transfers or long hauls.

Final Checklist: Survival Mode Activated

✅ Get a T-money card
✅ Download Naver Map + Papago (translation app)
✅ Pre-order your SIM or eSIM
✅ Book airport transport ahead of time
✅ Don’t trust Google Maps unless you like crying in public
✅ Don’t schedule 5 neighborhoods in one day—you are not a cyborg
✅ Know your hotel’s nearest subway exit or prepare to wander

👉 Coming Up Next:

What to Actually Do in Seoul—Forget the “Top 10” lists that include shopping malls. We’re talking grilled pork in smokey back alleys, industrial cocktail bars with no signs, and neighborhoods where the locals actually hang out.
[Jump ahead → What to Actually Do in Seoul]