Is the Seoul subway still running?
First & last train times by line, checked against the current time in Seoul
Operating hours by line (approx.)
| Line | First train | Last train (weekday) | Last train (weekend) |
|---|
Last-train times vary by station and direction: these are departures from central Seoul in the busier direction. Trains in the last hour stop short of the terminus — check the display board at the platform. On New Year's Eve and some festival nights service is extended.
Missed the last train?
- Night Owl bus (N-line) — ₩2,500, every 30–40 min until ~04:00 on routes like N15, N26, N37 through Jongno, Gangnam, Hongdae. Use Naver Map to find one.
- Taxi — 40% surcharge between 23:00 and 02:00. Hongdae → Gangnam late night costs about ₩25,000–30,000. Use the taxi calculator.
- Wait it out — first trains start about 05:30. 24-hour cafés, jjimjilbang saunas and PC rooms are the local way to kill the hours.
FAQ
What time does the Seoul subway close?
Most lines run their last trains from central stations between 23:50 and 00:30 on weekdays, and about 30 minutes earlier on weekends. The AREX express stops earlier, around 22:40 from Seoul Station.
Does the Seoul subway run 24 hours?
No. There is a gap from roughly 00:30 to 05:30. Night Owl buses and taxis cover it.
What time is the first subway in Seoul?
Around 05:30 on every line, slightly earlier on the AREX airport line (05:20) — early enough for a morning flight from Incheon with the all-stop train.