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Voykit pocket guide · South Korea
Seongnam
성남시
One day is enough for Seongnam’s main districts and markets; add a half‑day if you want Namhansanseong hike.
Seongnam is a large Gyeonggi suburb of Seoul with four functional zones – Old Town, Bundang, Pangyo and Wirye. Most attractions (Moran Market, parks, tech‑district malls) are reachable by subway or bus, so a single day covers the highlights; a second day allows a hike to the nearby UNESCO‑listed Namhansanseong fortress.
- Country
- South Korea
- Local name
- 성남시
- Best months
- Mar–May, Sep–Nov
- Avoid
- Jul–Aug (heat, rain)
- Stay
- 1 night
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- KRW
- Money
- Cards work almost everywhere, including taxis, convenience stores and many market stalls; carry ₩30,000–50,000 in cash for street food, small markets and temple donations.
- Daily spend
- Budget ₩30,000–45,000 excl. bed · Mid ₩45,000–80,000 excl. bed · High ₩80,000+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- SK Telecom, KT and LG U+ sell tourist SIMs and eSIMs at airport arrivals; a passport is required, and data-only plans are cheapest.
- Emergency
- Police 112 · Fire and ambulance 119 · Travel helpline 1330
- Plugs
- Types C, F · 220 V · 60 Hz · Round two-pin European plugs fit; US and UK plugs need an adapter, and US-only appliances need a converter.
- Tipping
- Restaurants and cafés: No tip; a service charge appears only in top hotels.; Taxis: No tip; pay the meter.; Hotel porter: Not expected; ₩1,000–2,000 in luxury hotels if you want.; Private guide or driver: Not expected; ₩10,000–20,000 or a meal is a thank-you.
- Water
- Officially safe from the tap; most people drink filtered water, and restaurants serve it free. Bottles cost ₩800–1,500 at convenience stores.
- Toilets
- Free, clean public toilets in every subway station; paper goes in the toilet in new buildings, in the bin where a sign asks. Bidets are common.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Moran Market street food | ₩2,000–5,000 |
| Coffee (café) | ₩3,000–5,000 |
| Subway ride | ₩1,250–1,500 (check) |
| Taxi (5 km (3.1 mi))Taxi (3.1 mi (5 km)) | ₩12,000–15,000 |
| Bus fare (city) | ₩1,200–1,500 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- ICN · Incheon International Airport
- AREX train to Seoul Station, then subway Line 8 to Seongnam (~1 h total)
- GMP · Gimpo International Airport
- Airport railroad to Seoul, then subway Line 8 to Seongnam (~45 min total)
Typical fares
- Seongnam ↔ Seoul (subway)
- ≈ ₩1,250 per ride, 40 min (check)
- Bundang ↔ Pangyo (bus)
- ≈ ₩1,500, 20 min (check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Subway lines 8, Bundang and the New Bundang Line cover most districts; town‑shuttle buses fill gaps (e.g., Wirye). Taxis and Kakao T app are reliable for short hops.
See and do
Known for
- Moran Market
- Bundang shopping malls
- Pangyo tech hub
- Namhansanseong fortress
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Namhansanseong Fortress | Bus from Bundang Station, about 30 min; hike up the trail | ≈ 1 h total |
| Seoul (city centre) | Metro Line 8 to Jamsil, then transfer to Line 2; ≈ 40 min | ≈ 1 h |
| Suwon Hwaseong Fortress | Express bus from Seongnam Old Town, ~45 min | ≈ 1 h 15 min |
Sleep
- Bundang
- Near subway, many hotels and guesthouses; good base for day trips to Seoul.
- Old Town
- Budget inns close to Moran Market and historic streets.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | 죄송합니다joesonghamnida |
| Thank you | 감사합니다gamsahamnida |
| How much is it? | 얼마예요?eolmayeyo? |
| Where is the subway station? | 지하철역이 어디에요?jihacheol yeogi eodieyo? |
| Can I pay by card? | 카드로 결제할 수 있어요?kadeuro gyeoljehal su isseoyo? |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: A slight bow with a 'annyeonghaseyo'; handshake with the right hand, left hand touching the right forearm; avoid: Hugs and cheek kisses with people you have just met
- Age and rank: Expect to be asked your age; it sets how people speak to you. Let the eldest sit and start first; avoid: Calling older people by their given name
- Handing things: Two hands for money, cards, gifts and drinks; avoid: Passing things with one hand to older people
- Subway: Quiet voices, bags off seats, queue at the marked lines; avoid: Priority and pink pregnancy seats, even when empty
- Home visit: Shoes off; bring fruit or a boxed gift; refuse once before accepting; avoid: Writing names in red ink — it is used for the dead
- Temples: Covered shoulders and knees; bow at the main hall; avoid: Stepping on thresholds; loud talk; pointing at Buddha statues
- Numbers: Know that 4 is unlucky; buildings may show F instead of a fourth floor; avoid: Giving gifts in sets of four
- Sensitive topics: Listen; follow your host's lead; avoid: Comparing Korea with Japan or China casually; jokes about the North, the Japanese colonial era, or plastic surgery
Scams and watch-outs
- Last subway trains run around midnight; plan return to accommodation.
- Wirye has no subway; use bus or taxi.
- English signage is limited on local buses.
Seongnam is generally safe; petty theft is rare but stay alert on crowded buses and markets.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Seongnam yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Moran Market
- Bundang shopping malls
- Pangyo tech hub
- Namhansanseong fortress
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikivoyage: Seongnam, revision 5310444 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5310444
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/seongnam). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.