Seoul Metropolitan Subway stations
Encyclopedia
Although each station in the area differs, most stations seem like this typical subway station in Seoul. Stations range in size, from tiny local stations to large transportation hubs.
Outside each station, entrances are marked with a tall obelisk
that has the station's name and station number printed on it below a small subway logo. Inside the station exits are marked with the uniquely translated "Way Out" and is assigned a number, depicted on signs in black with a black circle around the number. Station exits can be a significant distance away from each other at ground level, so it's important to know the exit number you want to take. Every station has detailed maps of the station and surrounding area showing the locations of each exit.
Emergency exit
s are marked with a green
sign that depict visually a person running out of a door.
The main area of any station has a ticket counter where ticket
s are purchased and T-Money
transportation cards are recharged. A row of automatic ticket dispensing machines
offer a quick way to buy tickets for those who do not wish to wait to interact with the real person behind the ticket counter. A map above the ticket dispensing machines explains the cost for each destination in the system; prices are charged by how far the user rides. These main areas of the station are often decorated with art, and often feature a fish tank. Also, a "library
" area is common, with books and chairs for people waiting to meet someone. Each main area leads to at least one ticket gate. In order to enter or exit the ticket gates the rider must insert his or her ticket, or scan a T-Money
card against the card pad.
Traveling around stations for visually impaired riders is enhanced by a guided path. These paths are usually bright yellow
, but range in color and thus can be seen in other colors such as silver
, too. The path is bumped up, allowing visually impaired riders to follow the path to the exit or the train. For riders needing wheelchair
access, many stations have elevator
s marked with a special symbol and also a device that can allow wheel chair users to ride up and down stairs. Korean Braille
can also be found at the base of stairs, in front of restrooms, and some other places.
Around one foot from the edge of platform, the floor is marked with a yellow safety line (usually bumped, as described above). Along this line, the locations of each doorway of each carriage are marked with 3 arrows or triangles. The central triangle indicates that disembarking passengers should leave from the center of the door, while the two arrows on the sides indicate that boarding passengers should form two lines at the sides while waiting for the train. Although courtesy
requires riders to wait for exiting passengers before entering the train, it is not uncommon for this to be somewhat ignored. Each boarding location is also numbered with the carriage and door number, and passengers use this information to position themselves at the ideal location for transferring to another line, or their desired exit at their destination station.
Recently terrorist
concerns have increased precautions against any attacks. Larger stations have cabinets
with disposable gas mask
s, and a new phone
has been installed. The phone has two buttons, the red button connects directly to the emergency response system and the green button connects to an information service.
The platform wall is marked with a thick line of the color of the train line, along with the name of current, next (and sometimes previous) station and an arrow indicating the train's direction. Each station also has a unique number, and its name written in hangul
, Roman characters, and Chinese character
s. If the rider can transfer to another train line, that color is represented as a thinner horizontal stripe above, or below, the station's color.
Subway Exit/Entrances
Obelisk
An obelisk is a tall, four-sided, narrow tapering monument which ends in a pyramid-like shape at the top, and is said to resemble a petrified ray of the sun-disk. A pair of obelisks usually stood in front of a pylon...
that has the station's name and station number printed on it below a small subway logo. Inside the station exits are marked with the uniquely translated "Way Out" and is assigned a number, depicted on signs in black with a black circle around the number. Station exits can be a significant distance away from each other at ground level, so it's important to know the exit number you want to take. Every station has detailed maps of the station and surrounding area showing the locations of each exit.
Emergency exit
Emergency exit
An emergency exit in a structure is a special exit for emergencies such as a fire: the combined use of regular and special exits allows for faster evacuation, while it also provides an alternative if the route to the regular exit is blocked by fire, etc....
s are marked with a green
Green
Green is a color, the perception of which is evoked by light having a spectrum dominated by energy with a wavelength of roughly 520–570 nanometres. In the subtractive color system, it is not a primary color, but is created out of a mixture of yellow and blue, or yellow and cyan; it is considered...
sign that depict visually a person running out of a door.
Main Area
Ticket (admission)
A ticket is a voucher that indicates that one has paid for admission to an event or establishment such as a theatre, movie theater, amusement park, zoo, museum, concert, or other attraction, or permission to travel on a vehicle such as an airliner, train, bus, or boat, typically because one has...
s are purchased and T-Money
T-Money
T-money is a rechargeable series of cards and other "smart" devices used for paying transportation fares in and around Seoul and other areas of South Korea. T-money can also be used in lieu of cash or credit cards in some convenience stores and other businesses...
transportation cards are recharged. A row of automatic ticket dispensing machines
Ticket machine
A ticket machine, also known as a ticket vending machine , is a vending machine that produces tickets. For instance, ticket machines dispense train tickets at railway stations and tram tickets at some tram stops and in some trams...
offer a quick way to buy tickets for those who do not wish to wait to interact with the real person behind the ticket counter. A map above the ticket dispensing machines explains the cost for each destination in the system; prices are charged by how far the user rides. These main areas of the station are often decorated with art, and often feature a fish tank. Also, a "library
Library
In a traditional sense, a library is a large collection of books, and can refer to the place in which the collection is housed. Today, the term can refer to any collection, including digital sources, resources, and services...
" area is common, with books and chairs for people waiting to meet someone. Each main area leads to at least one ticket gate. In order to enter or exit the ticket gates the rider must insert his or her ticket, or scan a T-Money
T-Money
T-money is a rechargeable series of cards and other "smart" devices used for paying transportation fares in and around Seoul and other areas of South Korea. T-money can also be used in lieu of cash or credit cards in some convenience stores and other businesses...
card against the card pad.
Accessibility of Stations
Yellow
Yellow is the color evoked by light that stimulates both the L and M cone cells of the retina about equally, with no significant stimulation of the S cone cells. Light with a wavelength of 570–590 nm is yellow, as is light with a suitable mixture of red and green...
, but range in color and thus can be seen in other colors such as silver
Silver (color)
Silver is the metallic shade resembling gray, closest to that of polished silver.The visual sensation usually associated with the metal silver is its metallic shine. This cannot be reproduced by a simple solid color, because the shiny effect is due to the material's brightness varying with the...
, too. The path is bumped up, allowing visually impaired riders to follow the path to the exit or the train. For riders needing wheelchair
Wheelchair
A wheelchair is a chair with wheels, designed to be a replacement for walking. The device comes in variations where it is propelled by motors or by the seated occupant turning the rear wheels by hand. Often there are handles behind the seat for someone else to do the pushing...
access, many stations have elevator
Elevator
An elevator is a type of vertical transport equipment that efficiently moves people or goods between floors of a building, vessel or other structures...
s marked with a special symbol and also a device that can allow wheel chair users to ride up and down stairs. Korean Braille
Korean Braille
Korean braille is a braille code used for writing the Korean language. It is not graphically related to other braille systems found around the world. Instead, it reflects the patterns found in hangul. It is a combination of initial consonants, vowels, and final consonants...
can also be found at the base of stairs, in front of restrooms, and some other places.
The Station Platform
Courtesy
Courtesy comes from old french 'courteis' is gentle politeness and courtly manners. In the Middle Ages in Europe, the behaviour expected of the gentry was compiled in courtesy books...
requires riders to wait for exiting passengers before entering the train, it is not uncommon for this to be somewhat ignored. Each boarding location is also numbered with the carriage and door number, and passengers use this information to position themselves at the ideal location for transferring to another line, or their desired exit at their destination station.
Terrorism
Terrorism is the systematic use of terror, especially as a means of coercion. In the international community, however, terrorism has no universally agreed, legally binding, criminal law definition...
concerns have increased precautions against any attacks. Larger stations have cabinets
Cabinet (furniture)
A cabinet is usually a box-shaped piece of furniture with doors or drawers for storing miscellaneous items. Some cabinets stand alone while others are built into a wall or are attached to it like a medicine cabinet. Cabinets are typically made of wood or, now increasingly, of synthetic...
with disposable gas mask
Gas mask
A gas mask is a mask put on over the face to protect the wearer from inhaling airborne pollutants and toxic gases. The mask forms a sealed cover over the nose and mouth, but may also cover the eyes and other vulnerable soft tissues of the face. Some gas masks are also respirators, though the word...
s, and a new phone
Emergency telephone number
Many countries' public telephone networks have a single emergency telephone number, sometimes known as the universal emergency telephone number or occasionally the emergency services number, that allows a caller to contact local emergency services for assistance. The emergency telephone number may...
has been installed. The phone has two buttons, the red button connects directly to the emergency response system and the green button connects to an information service.
Hangul
Hangul,Pronounced or ; Korean: 한글 Hangeul/Han'gŭl or 조선글 Chosŏn'gŭl/Joseongeul the Korean alphabet, is the native alphabet of the Korean language. It is a separate script from Hanja, the logographic Chinese characters which are also sometimes used to write Korean...
, Roman characters, and Chinese character
Chinese character
Chinese characters are logograms used in the writing of Chinese and Japanese , less frequently Korean , formerly Vietnamese , or other languages...
s. If the rider can transfer to another train line, that color is represented as a thinner horizontal stripe above, or below, the station's color.