Today, I’d like to write a post about the Seoul Subway Elevator System. The reason I decided to write this post is that last month, a foreign friend came to visit Korea, and we arranged to meet at Myeongdong Station. Since my friend was coming directly from the airport, they took the subway carrying two suitcases. I naturally assumed they would use the elevators, so I didn’t tell my friend, but they didn’t realize that and struggled to get up to Myeongdong Station using the escalators and stairs.
Seeing them expend even more energy coming up from the subway to the surface, especially after already being tired from traveling to Korea, I realized that there must be many foreigners who don’t know about the Seoul Subway Elevator. That’s why I decided to write this post. Let’s get started!
1. Make sure to check the elevator signs carefully
Not every Seoul subway station has an elevator. Therefore, when you get off at a subway station, you must carefully check the signs to see if an elevator is available.
Also, there are often cases where the exit you need to take does not have an elevator. It seems that this is because subway exits are designed diagonally, while elevators are designed in a straight line. That is just my personal opinion, though. Haha. So, if you need to exit through Exit 3 and simply follow the sign for that number, you won’t be able to take the elevator. Since walking on the ground level is more convenient than climbing the stairs with heavy luggage, if you see an elevator sign, please follow that first!
If you happen to take the subway in the wrong direction, please refer to “Wrong Direction? Try using the Seoul subway 15-minute rule.”
2. Learning the Seoul Subway Elevator System
To actually use the Seoul Subway Elevator, you need to know a few things.
After boarding the elevator and pressing the button for your floor, you do not need to press the “close” button. In fact, pressing it is useless. It is not that the system is broken; rather, in Korea, elevators are intended for the elderly, the disabled, and people pushing strollers. In reality, most people using the elevators are likely elderly individuals or travelers carrying strollers or heavy luggage. For their safety, the “close” button is disabled. Please keep this in mind, as the doors will close automatically if you wait just a moment!
The system may vary slightly from station to station, but some have a card reader located in front of the elevator. For these types of elevators, the system requires you to tap your card here before boarding, instead of at the ticket gate. Don’t panic; simply tap the card you used to take the subway, such as T-money, Gifu Donghaeng Card, or a credit card.
3. My Personal Tip for When Elevators Are Crowded
Seoul Subway elevators can get crowded due to the large number of people. Since the “close” button is disabled, it takes a long time for the doors to close, and waiting can be even more difficult if people are boarding at every floor. Should you just wait blindly in such situations? No! Here is my personal tip.
In Seoul, many subway stations are connected to large local buildings or landmarks. I often tell my foreign friends that if the subway station elevator is crowded, they should go to the building connected to the station. They can utilize the elevators in that building. Most buildings connected to subway stations are large and have well-equipped elevator systems.
- If you get off at Euljiro-Inpgu Station (Line 2), just follow the signs for Lotte Department Store Main Branch! You can go directly to Myeongdong by using the Lotte Department Store elevator. If you are planning to buy souvenirs in Myeongdong, be sure to read 3 of the best Seoul souvenirs 2026 that I personally found and recommend.
- To get to Myeongdong Station, you need to get off there. However, Myeongdong Station is famous for its long escalators and many stairs. So, my personal method is to get off at Hoehyeon Station (Line 4). If you get off at Hoehyeon Station and go out to Shinsegae Department Store, which is connected underground, you will see Myeongdong just by crossing the street. It is also great for shopping at Namdaemun Market or Shinsegae Department Store Main Branch! I highly recommend it.
- If you get off at Yeouido Station (Lines 5/9) to go to the Han River or The Hyundai, you can just follow the moving walkway to The Hyundai.
Before you depart, please check the official Seoul Subway website for more information about the elevators.
Today, I wrote a post about how to use Seoul Subway Elevators and some helpful tips. Among those traveling to Seoul, there are likely many who bring a lot of luggage, travel with children and strollers, or are traveling with their parents. Seoul is an incredibly traveler-friendly city. Everything is conveniently well-organized, so you should definitely take advantage of it! I hope you have a pleasant trip to Seoul without any inconveniences and return home happy.
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