Life in Korea: the M-bus

Author’s note: Life in Korea posts are aimed at the newer expats among us. If you have a more experienced perspective to offer, the comments are wide open!

Photo credit: ajnews.co.kr

Ahh, the M-bus. While not interested in waxing poetic about a public transportation system, the M-bus stands alongside Seoul’s already-excellent bus system to make getting around Gyeonggi-do (the province surrounding Seoul like a doughnut) that much easier. In essence, the M-bus system connects Gyeonggi-do to Seoul - something also done by some red buses and a smattering of the subway system. Where the M-buses excel are the routes: judiciously arranged to make use of the expressways instead of the back roads, and connecting the up-and-coming / still-growing areas to the capital city.

Since I haven’t found a page listing these various bus routes, I decided to put one together myself – note that while I aim for 100% accuracy, this page may be updated / edited without notice. If you take these buses, note any fun stuff or important stops in the comments – I haven’t tried them all out!

  • M4101 = Seoul > Seongnam > Yongin

Major stops: Hansung Apt. (Yongin), Yangjae intersection (near Yangjae station, line 3), Hannam bridge, Sungnyemun (AKA Namdaemun), and Jeongpyeong / Suju elementary school (first / last stop in Yongin)

  • M4102 = Seoul > Seongnam / Bundang

Major stops: Migeum station (Bundang line), Jeongja station (Bundang line), AK Plaza / Seohyeon station (Bundang line), Hannam bridge, Sungnyemun (AKA Namdaemun),

  • M4108 = Seoul > Seongnam > Yongin > Hwaseong / Dongtan

Major stops: Metapolis (Dongtan new city), Hannam bridge, Sungnyemun (AKA Namdaemun), Euljiro entrance, Samsung Plaza (Jung-gu), Seoul Station bus transfer area.

  • M4403 = Seoul > Seongnam > Yongin > Hwaseong / Dongtan

Major stops: Metapolis (Dongtan new city), Kyobo Tower / Sinnonhyeon station (line 9), Gangnam station (line 2), Yangjae station (line 3), Yangjae Citizen’s Forest.

  • M5107 = Seoul > Seongnam > Suwon > Yongin

Major stops: Gyeonghui University, Yangjae intersection (near Yangjae station, line 3), Hannam bridge, Euljiro entrance, Samsung Plaza (Jung-gu), Seoul Station bus transfer area.

  • M5609 = Seoul > Ansan

Major stops: Ansan station (line 1), Star Plaza, Guro Digital Complex, Yeouido bus transfer area, Boramae station (line 7).

  • M6410 = Gwacheon > Gunpo > Seoul > Siheung > Anyang > Uiwang > Incheon

Major stops: Seocho station (line 2), Gangnam station (line 2), Yangjae station (line 3).

If you can read Korean, check out the full list at http://www.gbis.go.kr/service/guide/guide1.action?cmd=myBus (click on Bus Search, then type the bus number that interests you, or type a capital ‘M’ to see all the M-bus routes mentioned above)

As always, there are a couple of pros and cons.

  • They’re the same price as the red buses, and based on the same price structure. In other words, carrying that T-Money card will still pay your way, and still gets you the same free/cheap transfers to other buses or the subway system.
  • They make comparatively fewer stops, making them faster than the red buses in many cases.
  • Phone chargers and comfortable seats. ‘Nuff said, though the former aren’t found in every bus.
  • Once every seat is full, the driver will NOT let more people on. This can be seriously annoying during rush hour, and may drive you back to a red bus during those hours.
  • The queues for these buses can get long, and signage is inconsistent. In a busy place like Gangnam, it’s hard to tell which line is for which bus – if you can’t figure it out from the signage, ask someone waiting in line. After you’ve figured it out, make a mental note of which store or shop the bus stops in front.

Do you ride the M buses? What do you think about them?

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