Starting soon, passengers who fail to tap their transit cards when exiting Seoul subway gates will automatically be charged an additional base fare on their next ride.
Seoul Metro announced Sunday that it will implement the "Urban Railway Exit Non-Tap Penalty System" across all metropolitan area rail lines starting January 7. The measure aims to prevent fare evasion caused by passengers not tapping out and to establish a fair fare system.
Seoul's subway fares are distance-based. Passengers pay a base fare for the first 10 kilometers from their departure station, with additional charges applied based on travel distance. The surcharge is 100 won for every 5 kilometers between 10 and 50 kilometers, and 100 won for every 8 kilometers beyond 50 kilometers.
Currently, if passengers tap only when boarding and skip the exit tap, the system cannot accurately track travel distance, leaving additional fares uncollected. This loophole has led to persistent cases of riders paying only the base fare while avoiding distance-based charges.
According to Seoul Metro, exit non-taps averaged approximately 8,000 cases per day from January to November last year—more than double the rate seen in combined bus-subway trips, where transfer penalties are already in effect.
Under the new system, when an exit tap is missed, the transit card's record is logged. The next time the same card is used for boarding, the base fare is automatically added as a penalty. The additional charge is 1,550 won for adults, 900 won for teenagers, and 550 won for children, applying to both prepaid and postpaid transit card users. Periodic passes, single-journey tickets, and senior discount passes are exempt.
Seoul Metro explained that the new policy is not intended to impose additional burdens on citizens but rather to prevent intentional fare evasion through missed taps and enhance fare equity. The agency will conduct intensive promotional activities through the end of this month, including joint campaigns at major transfer stations such as Seoul Station and Hongdae Station, along with notices, in-train videos, and announcements via its official app and social media channels.
"Exit tapping is a basic procedure for accurately confirming travel distance and settling fares," said Ma Hae-geun, head of Seoul Metro's business division. "We will work to establish transit order so that passengers who use the system properly are not disadvantaged."