This post is fourth in a series to help our clients and linguists navigate the Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympics. If you are one of our many clients or customers outside of Korea, hang tight! We will soon be back to our regularly scheduled linguistics programming.
South Korea is accustomed to hosting foreigners: with a strong US military presence and thousands of native English teachers teaching across the country, Korea has had a lot of time to prepare their tourist infrastructure. Nonetheless, if you don’t speak Korean, it can sometimes be surprisingly difficult to find your way around the country once you leave cosmopolitan Seoul.
Luckily, the country has prepared several initiatives, from travel apps to a whole new train line, to help you make the most of your trip. And don’t forget, if you need extra help, you can always call Meridian Interpreters directly from an app on your phone (sign up here for a free trial).
Departing the airport for Seoul
via KTX
KTX is the fastest but a moderately expensive method for exiting airport property. You can purchase a ticket for the train at the station. You can walk from the terminal to the station as it is attached to the airport, just follow signs for KTX.
via AREX
AREX (Airport Railroad Express) is the most economical way to get to Seoul. It takes about an hour and allows you to transfer to other subway lines as well. Download the KakaoMetro app for English navigation instructions within Seoul’s metro system including AREX. The station for AREX is attached to the airport.
More info: https://www.arex.or.kr/main.do
via City bus
There are hundreds of city buses departing the airport at regular intervals, however the city buses can be daunting for foreigners due to the sheer number of bus lines and unclear bus route maps. There are ticket agents available to help with routes and ticket purchasing who speak basic English at the airport if you want to take the plunge, but be aware that once you are on the bus, all announcements will be in Korean. You can also use the KakaoMap app to determine which bus line to use. If you’re confident and comfortable with using a city bus, go for it.
Via Taxi
The airport is not very close to Seoul city center, making taxis uneconomical, about 50-70,000 won for the trip. While it is not a recommended option, it may be good for those who prefer convenience or if you’re staying in the city of Incheon which is closer than Seoul. Taxi drivers are unlikely to speak English so have an address ready to show them. Luckily all taxis are equipped with GPS. Paying by foreign credit card is fine, as is cash.
via Van Service
Private startups “easi6” and “BUXI” are providing shared van transportation from the airport to Seoul.
Tickets available here: https://pyeongchangcarservice.com/ or here: https://www.buxikorea.com
Getting around Seoul
Purchase a T-Money card from any Korean convenience store or Metro station and add some money to the card. T-Money cards can be used for ANY subway, city bus, or taxi in the entire country! Just tap the card at the turnstile, and when you enter & exit a bus. You can top up your T-money card at any convenience store or at any Metro station (but, in an odd turn for this cashless society, you cannot pay by credit card in metro stations). Tapping off a bus allows one free bus transfer within 30 minutes, making trips across town a breeze.
For actual transportation around Seoul, hailing a taxi will be easiest as they are plentiful, with the exceptions of certain nighttime hotspots or when it is raining. Hailing a taxi is easy, just stick your arm out at 90° with palm down. A taxi with a red LED sign indicates it is available for a fare. A green LED sign means it is on the way to a reservation. An LED sign that is off indicates it already has a fare. Taxi drivers are usually pleasant but will not speak much English. If you need to use a taxi, show the driver your destination on a map using the KakaoMap app or present a Korean address. You can pay with credit card or cash and the driver will supply change as needed.
The go-to navigation app that is most similar to Google Maps is KakaoMap which provides walking and public transportation directions. KakaoMap is available in English for both iOS and Android.
Unfortunately rideshare services like Lyft, Grab, and Uber are not permitted in Korea. Instead there is an app called KakaoT (Kakao Taxi). If you don’t have a Korean credit card, you can choose to pay the driver directly.
Departing the airport for PyeongChang
Via KTX
The most direct route from the airport to the Games is via KTX. The operator of KTX, KORAIL, just opened a brand new high speed rail line specifically in preparation for the Games allowing direct access from the airport to the venues. KTX tickets do sell out, but you can check if there are some available for your departure time here: http://www.letskorail.com/ebizbf/EbizBfTicketSearch.do
KTX’s operator (KORAIL) offers “standing room only” tickets for overbooked trains at a discounted price. These tickets are called “Standing Tickets” and are only available for purchase at the train station.
Please be aware that all KTX trains require advanced ticket purchase either online or at a ticket booth in the station. Also, there are different KTX stops for different Olympics venues. When purchasing tickets, please verify the correct stop for your venue.
KTX venue-stop information: http://www.letskorail.com/img/foreign/comm/pyeongchang2018.html
Departing Seoul for Pyeongchang
via KTX
KTX offers service from Seoul Station, Cheongnyangni Station or Sangbong Station. Take a city bus or subway to either of these stations, then look for signage directing users to the Ganggyeong KTX line. Advanced online ticket purchase is recommended however tickets may be available for purchase at the station. If tickets are sold out online, there is a limited number of “standing tickets” available for purchase at the station. You may also try changing your departure station to see if seats are available as bookings change based on place of departure. If all KTX tickets are sold out, choose another method below.
via Free Shuttle
There is free shuttle service available departing from Seoul City Hall directly to Olympics Venues, but ETAs are at the discretion of traffic, which is notoriously bad entering and exiting the greater Seoul area. You can reserve tickets here: www.ebusnvan.com
via Intercity Bus
Intercity bus tickets are also an option and requires advanced ticket purchase here: https://txbuse.t-money.co.kr/main.do
If you don’t see your destination city, search here: https://www.kobus.co.kr/main.do
Reference the table of bus terminals here to determine destination city: https://www.pyeongchang2018.com/en/spectator-guide/infrastructure
via Taxi
Taxi is not recommended as the price would be very expensive (hundreds of of dollars), but it is an option. Some taxi drivers may not be comfortable with the long distance.
via Van Service
Private startups “easi6” and “BUXI” are providing shared van transportation from Seoul to Pyeongchang. Tickets available here: https://pyeongchangcarservice.com/ or here: https://www.buxikorea.com
Navigating around the Games
Transportation around the Games will be primarily handled through official shuttle service. Shuttles are provided from area Bus terminals and KTX Stations to the various venues around Pyeongchang. English signage will be provided to ensure attendees get to their proper venue.
There is an official Olympics app designed for navigating between venues at the Games that you can download in English here: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/go-pyeongchang/id1314446673?mt=8
Taxis will be hard to find unless you are at a train station or upmarket hotel. Unfortunately rideshare services like Lyft, Grab, and Uber are not permitted in Korea. Instead there is an app called KakaoT which provides a similar service but is not available to foreign tourists as it requires a Korean phone number.
Intercity buses are also an option but require advanced ticket purchase as well. You can use the official PyeongChang app for routes, then purchase tickets through the respective T-money website.
Oh no, I’m stranded!
Transportation back to Seoul can be difficult if tickets are sold out. If you become stranded in PyeongChang and have no transportation options back to Seoul, you can search for area accommodation on Airbnb or Hostelworld. For the truly desperate, there are also jjimjilbangs (찜질방) that are open 24/7 for those willing to experience a night in a Korean bathhouse.
And there you have it! Navigation around the Games may appear daunting, but there are plenty of options to get you from Point A to Point B without knowing any Korean. Enjoy your trip and enjoy Korea!
And if you still need help, Meridian Linguistics offers instant human translation and live interpreters, available at the click of a button. For the Winter Olympics, our Korean translators are available on-call from 8am to 10pm Korea time to help you make the most of your trip! Learn more here.
by Josh Howard
That post was Gold-medal worthy!
Excellent research and helpful information. Thanks!