However, there's a tricky part: sometimes, the announcement system is delayed, so by the time you hear your stop, it's already too late to press the button. In that case, you just have to get off at the next stop and walk back.
Another challenge? If a bus is stuck at a red light a few cars away from the bus stop, the driver might count that as an official stop. If you don't realize that your bus is waiting there and don't board quickly, the driver will move on when the light turns green, and you'll have to wait for the next bus.
South Korea's subway system is one of the cleanest in the world. It's also very organized—there are signs in Korean, English, Japanese, and Chinese, so it's easy to figure out where you need to go. If you have a navigation app like KakaoMap or Naver Map, it will tell you exactly which subway line to take and where to transfer.
When a train is arriving, a cute, catchy song plays over the speakers to let everyone know. The stations themselves feel like little underground cities, filled with food stalls, convenience stores, claw machine arcades, mini shops, and even indoor gardens! They also have trash cans, which are surprisingly rare in South Korea.
Another important rule: some subway seats are reserved for elderly, disabled, and pregnant passengers. Even if those seats are empty, you should never sit in them unless you meet the criteria—it's considered very rude!
Longer Trips
Traveling long distances in South Korea is exciting, and one of the best parts of a road trip is stopping at a Korean highway rest area! Unlike the small gas station stops back home, rest areas here are huge food courts filled with delicious snacks and fun things to see.
