I have several friends living in South Korea, and they all tell me it’s a great place to visit — the culture, the food, the nature. I’d love to go myself. But before I pack my bags, let’s do some research together on how their public transport and accessibility really are.
South Korea covers about 100,210 square kilometers — that’s five times smaller than Thailand — but its population is much denser, especially in Seoul where people live packed together. Their transport system is quite comprehensive: subways, buses, and high-speed trains.
South Korea’s laws on accessibility are clear on paper. Since 2008, the Disability Discrimination Act requires all new public buildings to be designed for everyone. It also sets employment quotas for people with disabilities and provides subsidies for assistive devices. The Welfare Act on Disability Access mandates ramps, elevators, tactile paving, and audible signals for people who are blind in public transport, plus low-floor buses for easy boarding.
In Seoul, many subway stations have elevators and automatic platform doors. Low-floor buses are expanding, and there are special taxis for people with disabilities. But when you look at the real situation, it doesn’t match the law. Many wheelchair users say South Korea is not very disability-friendly. Lots of shops have stairs with no ramps, some buildings lack elevators, and even major tourist spots are hard to access. In 2026, there were disability rights protests in Seoul where buses got snarled in traffic. A court later ruled that blocking public transport is illegal — even when done to demand rights.
The Seoul government has policies to improve transport for people with limited mobility — like fixing sidewalks, adding elevators, and making bus stops safer — but challenges remain. The fight for true accessibility is far from over.
This post gives an overview. In the next one, I’ll share more details. Please share and pass along good information. Thank you.
Sources: PeopleFirst, Seoul.go.kr, Accesstive.com