Are you worried about arriving in South Korea without a car? Relax. Depending on where you live in South Korea, there are a ton of efficient ways to get around. Although plenty of Koreans may own cars, this is simply not necessary, especially in the major urban areas of Korea. Here are the best ways to navigate these parts:

Korean Subway System

Seoul, Busan, Daegu, and Incheon all have subway systems, and it’s by far the best way to travel in these parts.

Here’s why:

• It’s Fast.  Generally, the subway runs every 2.5 –3 minutes during rush hours and 4–6 minutes during non-rush hours. I commuted to work everyday on the subway.

• It’s Cheap. Most subway fares in South Korea begin at 900 KRW (about 80 cents) and go up from there depending on the distance of the journey and the number of transfers. For a 45-minute commute, I paid 1100 KRW.

• It’s English Friendly. In Seoul and most subway stations in South Korea, the stations and the maps are printed in Korean, English and Chinese. On the subway, there is a voiceover in Korean and English that tells you the upcoming stop.

• It’s Clean and Safe. Like most of South Korea, the transit system is also impeccably clean. Although there are very few trash cans in the subway station, there is somehow no litter, which means there are also no rats. Also like most of Korea, all of the subway stations have CCTV cameras and subway police that patrol the area.

Busses

Some Korean commuters may also use the bus in addition to the subway. Buses tend to not be as English-friendly as the subway system and not as timely.  If you are interested in using the bus system, talk with a Korean coworker who can help you plan out a route.  Peterson and I used the bus in our neighborhood to get to the library, which turned a 30-minute walk into a 5-minute bus ride.

The only downside? The South Korean subway doesn’t run late into the night. During the week, the subway runs approximately 5:30 AM to 1:00 AM, and 5:30 AM to 12:00 AM Saturday and Sunday. It’s not usual for weekend revelers to stay out all night to catch the subway the next morning!

High-Speed Trains

Korea’s intercity trains system, Korail or the KTX, has all of the same advantages: it’s fast, cheap, English friendly, clean and safe. Peterson and I used the KTX for most of our weekend vacations, including to Daegu and Busan. Depending on what class you book your ticket for, the price will be anywhere between 20,000-30,000 KRW (18-25 USD). Our only suggestion is to book these tickets in advance, especially during the holiday seasons like Chuseok. They usually sell out quickly.

Taxis

Relative to cabs in New York City and most large cities, taxis in South Korea are cheap. Once you get in the taxi, the fare automatically starts at 2,400 ($2 USD ) and goes up after two kilometers, depending on traffic, then increases one hundred won (approx $.10 US) every 210 meters or 51 seconds. After midnight, the fare starts at 2,800 Won. We usually took cabs when we wanted to go home on the weekends before sunrise. On average, a 30-minute cab ride was about $20,000 KRW ( 17 USD), which is ridiculously cheap. And there’s NO TIPPING in Korea, huzzah!

Unlike public transportation in Korea, most cab drivers do not speak English. So, it’s a good idea to have your address written out in Korean. Once I  knew a few phrases in Korean, I usually would tell the driver my subway station, and then direct the driver to my home from there.

Planes

If you are most focused a quick route rather than cost, there are a number of Korean airlines that offer domestic flights.  There are usually no extra fees for weekends or holidays, and advanced purchase is not required, though you should reserve in advance during the holidays. On average, a flight from Seoul to Busan is 78,000 KRW (70 USD).

Bikes/Scooters

Korea is not bike friendly in the traditional sense. There are no bike lanes for traveling on the streets, so many people opt to follow running trails and paths. Instead of bikes, many Koreans own a scooter. I also knew a few foreigners who bought scooters, too. These are relatively fast and cheap on gas. Unfortunately many Koreans opt to ride on the sidewalk, which makes it incredibly difficult at times to walk down the street. The upside is there is a burgeoning bike community in Korea, especially in Seoul (There’s even a critical mass that gets together).

All in all, Korea is the right place to move if you are looking for cheap, fast public transit. So take advantage!