Tips for the wheelchair accessible travel in Seoul

According to the Global Destinations Cities Index published by Mastercard, Seoul was one of the 20 most visited cities in the world prior to the pandemic, and there are a couple of reasons that make Seoul such an attractive tourist destination.

First of all, Seoul is a nature-friendly city where you have easy access to outdoor activities, despite it being one of thebiggest metropolises in the world. Moreover, you can literally witness traces of history that span across the last several hundred years within a single glance, especially in the Jongno District. Seoul also offers a dynamic nightlife while ensuring that you can travel around safely during the night hours. K-pop, K-drama, mukbangs, and other hallyu contents continue to garner interest and fandom around the world from, drawing younger generations to Seoul.

Beyond the reasons described above, there is yet another important reason, perhaps lesser known, as to why you should consider Seoul as your next travel destination. If you or others you travel with are in need of accessible facilities, now is as good a moment as ever to plan your trip to Seoul. Since 2018, Seoul has worked on improving the infrastructure of the tourism environment so that everyone, be it those with disabilities, the elderly, expectant mothers, as well as children, can enjoy their time traveling. Being in charge of the Accessible Tourism Plan here at the Seoul Tourism Organization we constantly strive to ensure increased wheelchair accessibility in Seoul. So far, we have successfully introduced wheelchair accessible vehicles for tourists, founded the accessible tourism center and the website, and more. Let’s first take a look at how Seoul has become wheelchair accessible travel destination.

Part 1. Seoul Danurim Accessible Tourism Center

We opened the door of Seoul Danurim Accessible Tourism Center on April 30th   2019, marking it as the first barrier-free tourist information center in Korea. At the center, you can get travel information at the accessible computer station, equipped wi th various assistive aids. You can also reserve a wheelchair accessible vehicle for airport pickup or even rent travel assistive devices like a wheelchair, portable ramp, and more.

Part 2. Transportation Guide in Seoul for Wheelchair Users

Seoul's Public transportation system has a solid reputation for its punctuality, reasonable fares, air-conditioning and heating systems, to name a few. For people in wheelchair, subway use is often recommended as it’s fully accessible and provides easy transfer to other lines, not to mention the free access to Wi-Fi. Below, we would like to suggest two useful subway applications to help you travel Seoul more efficiently with wheelchair. With these apps, you will be able to find the fastest route for wheelchair users while getting information on station amenities.

Useful SubwayApplications

1. Kakao Map: By clicking each subway station on the map, you can find accessibility information under the Facilities for Disabled category. If your phone's language setting is English, most of the app's features are automatically translated into English.

2. Ttota Subway : Operated by Seoul Metro, Ttota Subway offers more accurate accessibility information for wheelchair users as it reflects the real-time operating information of the elevators. As of October 2022, it is only available in Korean but is expected to launch an English service by the end of 2022.

TransportationTo & From the Airport 

For those who are looking for a private transportation that is wheelchair accessible, the Danurium Minivan and the Call Taxi for theDisabled are the best options.  Seoul Tourism Organization is planning  to launch the airport pickup service for international tourists in November 2022. If you make a reservation online in advance on the Seoul Danurim Accessible Tourism website, Danurim Minivan will pick you up at a designated time. The fare is free, and the operating hours are from 09:00 to 18:00 (GMT +9).

The Call Taxi for the Disabled  is a public service for those who are in wheelchair. It is available for transportation within Seoul or for return to the airport. The base fare is inexpensive at KRW 1,500, however, there maybe a waiting time of up to 90 minutes. The taxi is typically deployed within 20-30minutes upon request.

Part 3. Wheelchair AccessibleTourist Attractions & Accommodations

From blogs and YouTube videos to online forums, travel magazines, and more, the Internet has endless resources to help plan your travel itinerary, but for those requiring accessibility information, it might not be that easy. Plan your trip with Seoul Danurim Accessible Tourism Website where you can find the most recent travel information geared toward those with disabilities. You can find more than 100 tourist attractions and hotels with accessibility information in detail.

Accessibility information is offered in two parts: pictograms and photos. Firstly, the three colors of the pictograms indicate accessibility levels for people in a manual wheelchair. A blue circle indicates easy access for everyone, a green triangle indicates a slight inconvenience depending on the range of disability, and a red cross indicates a lack of accessibility. Secondly, photos allow you to check if the space is wide enough and structurally well designed to maneuver your wheelchair. You’ll be able to readily find satisfactory, accessible locations as you can search by district, type of attraction, and/or the required facilities.

Accommodations

Finding the right accommodation is an essential part of planning trips, especially if you are wheelchair user. On the Seoul Danurim website, you can find wheelchair friendly hotels, featuring photos of accessible guest rooms. All of the accommodations on the website are certified as Universal Tourism Facilities by the Seoul Tourism Organization, guaranteeing the wheelchair accessibility.  

Part 4. Travel Assistive Devices Rental Services

If you’re looking for wheelchair rental in Seoul, the Seoul Danurim Accessible Tourism Center has rental available for free. In addition to wheelchairs, various items are available for tourists requiring assistance.You can rent the items up to 15 days with free delivery provided for those in Seoul. Below are a couple of occasions that these rental items can be useful in particular.

For Downtown Areas& Cultural Heritage Sites

Like many other cities, downtown Seoul, especially the older areas, as well as cultural heritage sites, may be vulnerable from an accessibility view point despite of being worth visiting. A portable ramp will significantly widen your dining options in this case. Try restaurants and cafes that are popular with young local people in Insa-dong and Seochon village. Many places renovated from olde rbuildings add to your experience with a modern touch. The portable ramp will allow entry into many of these places and is easy to carry while being light weight. In fact, you can even hang it on your wheelchair.

For Accommodations

Considering your travel itinerary, the accessible hotel room in the best location might not be perfectly adapted to your physical condition. Assistive devices, such as shower chairs, shower wheelchairs, and a mobility hoist, may help you to expand your range of choice for accommodations.