Seoul · Transport

Can I leave the Seoul subway for a restroom and re-enter without another base fare?

Partly · Official source

Seoul describes same-station re-entry within 15 minutes as a transfer on covered sections. Check your station and ticket with staff before leaving the gates.

Confirmed
  • Same-station re-entry — Partly
  • Covered operating sections — Partly
What to do

Before exiting for a restroom, check the city notice's coverage and confirm your station and ticket with station staff.

Not confirmed
  • Your ticket and gate result

Last verified

On this page

What does the evidence cover?

The September 2023 notice describes a limited re-entry policy, not coverage of every station, line or ticket.

  • [S222] Official source (KO) · Observed: Not confirmed · Checked:
Action or conditionVerdictEvidence
Same-station re-entry

The notice describes returning within 15 minutes after the exit tap and using a transfer instead of another base fare.

 Partly · Official source
  • [S222] Official source (KO) · Observed: Not confirmed · Checked:
Covered operating sections

The notice names covered sections on Lines 1–9 and the two named light-rail lines; it does not establish coverage across the entire metropolitan network.

 Partly · Official source
  • [S222] Official source (KO) · Observed: Not confirmed · Checked:
Your ticket and gate result

The eligibility of your ticket and the same-day gate result have not been checked.

 Not confirmed
  • [S222] Official source (KO) · Observed: Not confirmed · Checked:

What should I check next?

  1. Before exiting for a restroom, check the city notice's coverage and confirm your station and ticket with station staff.

    • [S222] Official source (KO) · Observed: Not confirmed · Checked:

  2. Where staff confirm eligibility, follow the notice's same-station return window measured from the exit tap.

    • [S222] Official source (KO) · Observed: Not confirmed · Checked:

What are the limits and unknowns?

  • The source is a September 26, 2023 policy notice; reading it today is not a new operating announcement.
  • The 15-minute rule should not be treated as an unlimited or network-wide free-entry pass.
  • No gate test was made, and this guide does not establish single-journey ticket or pass eligibility.

Also listed in Transport.

Sources

Official source: Confirmed in an official document or on an official site. Observed is the date the source itself gives for the notice, event or test (Reported, for a report by travellers). Checked is the date we read it. “Not confirmed” after Observed means the source gives no date, and we don’t guess one.

  • [S222] Official source (KO) news.seoul.go.kr Observed: Not confirmed · Checked:

    Read source [S222]

    Details

    Seoul's September 26, 2023 notice extends same-station re-entry to 15 minutes from October 7, 2023. Eligible re-entry uses a transfer instead of another base fare. Coverage is limited to the stated operating sections.

    Checked against the official page on 2026-10-20. No visit or booking was made.

Dates and changes

Last verified

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