Last trains after a concert: how late Seoul's subway runs, venue by venue

In 2022 Seoul Metro and Korail restored late-night service that had been cut to midnight during the pandemic: until 1 am on weekdays, judged by arrival at the last stop, and until midnight on weekends and holidays (Line 1 from July 2022, Lines 3 and 4 from August). First trains vary by station; Visit Seoul gives about 5:30 am.

"Until 1 am" refers to arrival at the end of the line, so the last train through a station in the middle leaves earlier. And the line you change to may finish before the one you start on, so check the whole journey from the venue's station to your hotel's.

We calculate these from Seoul's open timetable data (Lines 1–9). For each venue we follow trains by train number from the nearest station to the main hotel areas, allow extra time on Seoul Metro's published transfer walks, and subtract the walk to the station plus 5 minutes for the gates. The result is the time to leave the venue.

Latest time to leave the venue and still reach the station by the last train, from the Seoul open-data timetables (Seoul Metro Lines 1–9). It allows for the walk to the station and 5 minutes to get through the gates. AREX, the Gyeongui–Jungang, Shinbundang and Suin–Bundang lines and GTX-A are not in the data, so the real last option can be later. Timetable figures, not live data.

Each venue page also lists the last train per line and direction, for example Olympic Park, Gocheok Sky Dome and KINTEX.

K-pop shows mostly start in the early evening at weekends. Here are the start times of the shows in our calendar, by day. Listed running times are mostly around two hours, and encores and staggered exits push your departure later.

• If the station is packed, walk one stop or use another station: Mongchontoseong (Line 8) or Hanseong Baekje (Line 9) for Olympic Park; Guro or Gaebong for Gocheok Sky Dome (both suggested by the operators).
• Check the destination on the train: Line 5 splits at Gangdong and Line 1 at Guro.
• Top up your transport card before the show (How to buy T-money).

Start times of the shows in our calendar

A Saturday 18:00 start with a two-hour show ends around 20:00, which usually leaves a couple of hours before the leave-by time. At venues outside Seoul such as KINTEX, or for long shows and festivals, that margin can disappear. Check the show's expected finish and your connections beforehand.

Night buses (N buses)

Seoul runs "Owl" night buses, numbered with an N. After the 2022 expansion there were 14 routes, running 23:00–06:00. The fare is 2,500 won by card or cash. Routes are limited, so check in a map app whether one passes near your hotel.

Taxis

A Seoul taxi starts at 4,800 won for the first 1.6 km. At night there is a 20% surcharge from 22:00 to 23:00 and 02:00 to 04:00, and 40% from 23:00 to 02:00. You can pay by cash, card or transport card. For visitors, Kakao Mobility's k.ride app works in English, Chinese and Japanese and takes overseas cards; Uber also operates. Right outside a big show taxis are scarce, so walking to a main road helps.

Venues outside Seoul

From KINTEX, the M7106 bus to Sungnyemun runs until about 00:50 from its far terminus, according to KINTEX. At INSPIRE Arena, the resort's last free shuttle to Hongdae and Myeongdong leaves at 5:30 pm (official timetable), too early for evening shows.