Greater Seoul commuters get free re-entry within 15 minutes starting Saturday

Commuters across the Greater Seoul area will be exempt from paying the base fare if they re-enter the same subway station within 15 minutes, starting Saturday.

The policy covers situations such as boarding a train in the wrong direction, stepping outside to use a restroom near the turnstile, or accidentally getting off at the wrong station.

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and Korea Railroad Corporation (Korail) announced Monday they will implement the measure as part of the "Ilhwakaeng" initiative — a program aimed at delivering tangible administrative improvements to everyday life — in response to longstanding complaints from passengers.

The exemption will apply to Line 1 segments running from Yeoncheon to Hoegi, Namyeong to Sinchang, and Guro to Incheon; Line 3 from Daehwa to Jichuk; and Line 4 from Namtaeryeong to Oido. It will also cover the Suin-Bundang Line, Gyeongui-Jungang Line, Gyeonggang Line and Seohae Line.

The policy mirrors a program already in place under the Seoul Metropolitan Government, which exempts passengers from the base fare when they re-board within 15 minutes. Seoul first piloted the scheme in July 2023 with a 10-minute window before extending it to 15 minutes that October.

Korail said passengers who need to pass back through a turnstile quickly for urgent reasons will no longer have to pay the base fare again. The change is expected to save commuters in the Greater Seoul area roughly 6.04 million trips' worth of fares annually — about 5.6 billion won ($3.68 million).

The ministry said the re-entry exemption applies only once per journey and that customers using single-use tickets or commuter passes — rather than transit cards — must continue to call a station attendant and use the emergency gate as before.

Minister Kim Yun-deok said the policy is "a lifestyle-oriented measure designed to address the everyday inconveniences people frequently encounter," adding that the ministry will "continue to innovate rail services in line with public expectations and build a more convenient environment for rail users."