South Korea wheelchair accessibility guide

Korea's national disability registration is held by the Ministry of Health and Welfare and recorded on the welfare card (복지카드). Since 2019 the older six-grade system has been replaced by two bands: 심한 장애 (severe disability) and 심하지 않은 장애 (not severe). Many older venues still post grade-1 to grade-6 pricing tables; the band you fall into is what the cashier checks.

Short-stay visitors cannot apply for a welfare card. Most national venues accept a home-country disability card plus a passport at the staffed window. Bring three things: a national disability card or pass, a recent doctor's letter on letterhead, and a passport. Ask at the till, not at an unattended kiosk.

The KTX high-speed network connects Seoul, Daejeon, Daegu, and Busan with dedicated wheelchair seats (휠체어석) on every long-distance train. Reservations are through the Korail booking portal or any Korail ticket window, with staff-assisted boarding free of charge at major stations.

Korail discounts split by band. Severe-disability passengers get a 50% fare reduction on KTX and Saemaeul services every day, with one companion included. Non-severe passengers get a 30% reduction on weekdays only, no companion discount.

Seoul Metro has lifts at almost every line-1 and line-2 station and at most lines 3 to 9. Lift maps are published on the Seoul Metro site and the Seoul Danurim barrier-free portal. The Seoul Metropolitan Government reported 73.2% of the city bus fleet converted to low-floor buses as of March 2024.

Accessible taxis (장애인 콜택시) are run by the Seoul Facilities Corporation through a single citywide number. Phone-book one day ahead for evenings, same day for daytime. Major hotels can place the booking on your behalf. Busan, Daegu, and Daejeon run similar fleets.

Seoul is the right first destination. The metro is step-free, Incheon Airport is fully accessible with free passenger-assistance service, and the city has the deepest accessible-hotel inventory in Korea. From Seoul, Busan and Gyeongju are easy day or overnight trips on the KTX.

Allow three to five days for the core sights: Gyeongbokgung and Changdeokgung palaces, the National Museum of Korea, N Seoul Tower, and the War Memorial of Korea. Add a half-day for Deoksugung and an evening walk in Bukchon if the weather is good.