Seoul Express Bus Terminal Booking and Boarding

For Gyeongbu and Yeongdong line services at Seoul Express Bus Terminal, book through KOBUS under “Seoul Gyeongbu.” Website bookings close 1 hour before departure. With a mobile ticket ready, you can board without collecting a ticket at the counter. At the terminal, follow the Gyeongbu and Yeongdong line signs to find your boarding platform.

Fares and conditions of use are based on official guidance checked on November 9, 2026.

Boarding steps for first-time passengers

Follow the steps below, from checking the timetable to boarding. When booking, choose your travel date and arrival terminal. Have your payment method ready, too.

1. Open “Find Express Bus Times” on the left side of this site. Select Seoul Gyeongbu as your departure point, your destination, and your travel date. Check the timetable and fares for that date.
2. Book a ticket on the KOBUS website or the express bus mobile app. To buy a ticket at the terminal, use the ticket counters or self-service ticket machines on the 1st floor.
3. Have your ticket ready in the format you selected. For a mobile ticket, check that it opens in the app. If you chose counter collection, collect your ticket before departure.
4. Go to the Gyeongbu and Yeongdong line boarding platforms. A boarding platform is where you board the bus. Check that the destination and departure time on your ticket match the signs at the terminal.
5. Scan your ticket’s QR code at the bus’s E-PASS terminal. After your ticket is checked, sit in your assigned seat.

The KOBUS booking guide states the ticket issuance deadline as follows.

Tickets cannot be issued after the departure time.

Source: KOBUS “Booking Guide”

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From Express Bus Terminal Station, follow the Gyeongbu and Yeongdong line signs to Seoul Express Bus Terminal.

How do Seoul Gyeongbu and Central City differ?

If you bought a Gyeongbu or Yeongdong line ticket, go to Seoul Express Bus Terminal. Honam line services use Central City Terminal in the same complex. Do not choose your boarding location based only on the station name, “Express Bus Terminal.”

Routes to Chungcheong are split between the two terminals. Do not choose a terminal simply because your destination is in Chungcheong. You can check which terminal to use in the Seoul Express Bus Terminal route guide.

Seoul Nambu Terminal and Dong Seoul Terminal are also separate departure points. You cannot board at these terminals with a Seoul Gyeongbu ticket. Even when traveling to the same city, go to the departure terminal shown in your booking.

Location and operator

Seoul Express Bus Terminal is at 194 Sinbanpo-ro, Seocho-gu, Seoul. It is operated by Seoul Express Bus Terminal Co., Ltd. The terminal’s main phone number is 1688-4700.

Where can I check timetables and bus classes?

Check timetables and fares by date under “Find Express Bus Times” on this site. The menu is on the left side of the site. Before paying, also check the service and final amount on the booking screen.

Check the first and last departures and fares for your travel date. Do not set off relying only on an old saved timetable. For questions about bus scheduling, contact your departure terminal.

Read “Late-night” separately from the seating class. Check each route for Standard, Deluxe, and Premium services. Do not assume that every class is available on every route.

Late-night and seat-count surcharges

Late-night surcharges and surcharges based on seat count have different conditions. They are based on Article 9 of the “Guidelines for Adjusting Fares and Rates for Passenger Motor Transport Services.” Check the booking screen for the amount actually charged.

These percentages are not fixed increases applied uniformly to actual fares. They are the surcharge limits set by the regulations. In particular, do not read 30% as the late-night surcharge rate.

What to check after the 2026 fare increase

KOBUS announced a 9% fare increase starting with the first departure on October 1, 2026. The notice was posted on September 22, 2026. The increase applies to express and intercity bus fares.

Tickets booked before the increase retain the previous fare. However, changes made on or after October 1, 2026, are subject to the new fare. Your payment amount may therefore change even if there is no change fee.

How to book on the website, app, or at the terminal

Choose your booking channel based on the time remaining before departure and your preferred ticket format. KOBUS website bookings are available until 1 hour before departure. For online bookings closer to departure, check the app.

The KOBUS booking steps are as follows.

1. Under “Express Bus Booking,” select Seoul Gyeongbu as your departure point.
2. Choose your destination, travel date, and class, then search.
3. Select your preferred service and seat.
4. Complete payment and select your ticket issuance method.
5. Check that your booking is complete under “Check/Cancel/Change Booking.”

The KOBUS booking guide refers to the app as the “Express Bus Mobile App.” If you select a mobile ticket, you can board without collecting a separate ticket at the counter. Before departure, check that the actual ticket appears in the app.

For counter collection, bring the credit card used for the booking. If a connection error leaves the payment result unclear, check your booking history first. Detailed ticket issuance conditions are available in the KOBUS booking guide.

KOBUS is the integrated booking service of the Korea Express Bus Lines Association. For booking system questions, contact customer service at 1644-9030. For questions about terminal facilities or bus scheduling, call the terminal’s main number.

Getting there by subway and city bus

From the subway, follow the Gyeongbu and Yeongdong line signs at Express Bus Terminal Station. The terminal’s directions point to Exits 1 and 2 on the Line 3 side. Passengers using Lines 7 and 9 should follow the transfer passage toward Line 3.

1. Get off at Express Bus Terminal Station.
2. If you arrived on Line 7 or 9, look for signs toward Line 3.
3. Head toward Exits 1 and 2.
4. Check the Gyeongbu and Yeongdong line signs, then go to your boarding platform.

For city buses, check the stop and direction of travel on the day of your trip. The bus guide images on the terminal website show different route numbers. It is better to check current routes than to rely only on a fixed list of numbers.

If you use a wheelchair or stroller, check for a step-free route first. The exit directions above do not establish which routes connect to elevators. Ask the station office and terminal about the route you need.

Ticket counters, waiting areas, and facilities

Ticket counters and self-service ticket machines are on the terminal’s 1st floor. Convenience stores and food and drink outlets are also listed in the 1st-floor guide. Check the locations of any facilities you need before heading to your boarding platform.

Do not treat the luggage storage information as details about individual self-service lockers. No locker sizes or fees have been confirmed. To store luggage, contact the luggage storage service directly.

If you need a nursing room or accessibility facilities, ask before visiting. The terminal’s main phone number is 1688-4700. If you also need help boarding the bus, explain which route you will use.

Parking fees and payment methods

Parking at Seoul Express Bus Terminal costs 1,500 won per 15 minutes. The hourly fee is 6,000 won. The daily parking fee cap has been abolished.

The Seoul Express Bus Terminal parking guide lists credit card payment only. If you drive, bring a card for payment. Also check the parking operator before entering.

Do not assume these fees apply to other parking facilities in the same complex. Parking conditions at nearby commercial facilities must be checked separately. For longer stays, remember that there is no daily cap.

Booking changes and cancellations by situation

Time changes and date changes are handled differently. You can change the time, number of tickets, or class once, up to 1 hour before departure. There is no fee for this change.

Follow these steps to change or cancel a booking.

1. Open your booking history on the website or app where you booked.
2. Check the date and departure time of the ticket you want to change.
3. If the item can be changed, check the new service and seat.
4. If cancellation is required, check the fee shown on the screen.
5. After completing the process, check your final booking status again.

How much are cancellation fees?

Cancellation fees are a percentage of the ticket fare. These are based on the KOBUS rules revised on May 1, 2025. Check both the departure-day category and the cancellation time.

The 60% post-departure fee in the table applies from May 1, 2026. It remains in effect until April 30, 2027. From May 1, 2027, the fee for the same period is 70%.

The holiday period runs from 2 days before Seollal or Chuseok through the following day. Tickets issued on the day of departure have a cancellation fee exception. Cancellation is free within 1 hour of ticket issuance, provided it is before the bus departs.

What should I check to avoid extra costs?

Check change fees, fare differences, and parking charges separately. Do not read “free changes” as meaning no additional payment. If your plans change, review the items below together.

E-PASS supports on-site card payment when seats are available. You can pay with a transit card or credit card and then board. However, seats must be available, so this is not a guaranteed substitute for booking.

Have redevelopment plans changed the boarding location?

Do not assume that the current boarding location has changed simply because redevelopment was announced. The Seoul Metropolitan Government announced that preliminary negotiations would begin in November 2025. The plan includes combining the Gyeongbu, Yeongdong, and Honam line terminals underground.

The project proponents are Shinsegae Central Co., Ltd. and Seoul Express Bus Terminal Co., Ltd. The Seoul Metropolitan Government’s November 27, 2025 announcement explains the proposed development plan. It does not give a construction start date or a schedule for temporary terminal operations.

Before traveling, check the departure point in your booking and the terminal’s notices. If there is a notice of relocation or a boarding platform change, follow that guidance. For questions about using the terminal, call Seoul Express Bus Terminal at 1688-4700.