2023/09/27
Additional note (2023/12/03): the base fare increase to 1400 KRW is now in effect, all fare calculations would be as a consequence.
Currently, the Sinbundang Line has a rather complex fare system. First of all, you pay the default fares of Seoul Metropolitan Subway. That being the base fare + distance fare. Base fare is currently 1250 KRW, with plans to increase that to increase that to 1400 KRW by October 7th and 1550 KRW by 2024. Distance fare is not charged up until 10 km, beyond which you are charged 100 KRW for every 5 km up to 50 km, from which you are charged 100 KRW for every 5km, unless if you cross Gyeonggi-Gangwon and/or Gyeonggi-Chungcheong province borders, in which case the Gangwon and Chungcheong sections charge 100 KRW for every 4 km.
As you can see, the standard fare isn't quite so simple to begin with, and since the Sinbundang overlays its own fare system on top of it, of course it will be quite complex.
Yes, fares, plural, that is not a mistake. Currently, the Sinbundang line is split into three sections based on which private fund funded the section. There is the Sinsa to Gangnam section, Gangnam to Jeongja Section, and Jeongja to Gwanggyo Section. If you use these sections at all, you will be charged a price.
The section numbers, btw, are given in order of opening; that's why Section 3 is not after Section 2 like you would expect.
These fares are not what you get charged, but what they will charge on top of what you already pay based on the default fare. Going from Gwanggyo to Sinsa, the default fare is 1750 KRW, with Sinbundang Line Additional Fare of 1900 KRW making that 3650 KRW.
The devil is in the details. the most evil part about this whole fare scheme is that you will be charged the same additional fares even if you just use a tiny section of each section. Going from Sinnonhyeon to Migeum, for example, sees you using the entirety of section 1, and one station each of sections 2 and 3. Despite this, you will still be charged the full additional fare of 1900 KRW on top of the default fare of 1450 KRW, making this trip 3350 KRW. Compare that to a trip from Gangnam to Jeongja, which is only 2 stations and 1.8 km shorter. In this case you will only be charged 1000 KRW additional fare on top of the same default fare of 1450 KRW, making this trip a whopping 900 KRW cheaper at 2450 KRW. For comparison, elementary students can go up to 10 km on non-Sinbundang lines for 450 KRW.
Yes, the fare is expected to rise. By how much? by up to 450 KRW.
section 3 fare will be increased by 200 KRW to 700 KRW.
section 1+2 combined fare will be increased by 100 KRW to 1500 KRW
the base fare for Seoul Metropolitan subway will be increased by 150 KRW to 1400 KRW.
With these changes in mind, the aforementioned examples become much more egregeous: Gwanggyo to Sinsa will be 2200 KRW on top of a default fare of 1900 KRW, becoming 4100 KRW. Migeum to Sinnonhyeon will be 3800 KRW, compared to Jeongja to Gangnam becoming a much more tame 2600 KRW. These two trips will now have a 1200 KRW difference in fare, despite having only 1.8 km difference in length.
Honestly, Seoul Metropolitan Subway deserves a pay raise. Its fares are almost criminally cheap for how good it is, and I think people shouldn't be so disgruntled about paying more. Sinbundang is a different story. It's a story of private investment funds being greedy, trying to squeeze out every last penny from the suburban commuters of South Gyeonggi. My hope is that the GTX will pressure the Sinbundang to decrease prices, as GTX-A will be much faster and in competition with the Sinbundang in carrying commuters from Seongnam-Yongin-Suwon area to Gangnam. Genuinely, Migeum-Sinnonhyeon being 3800 KRW is ridiculous, when a comparable section on the GTX-A will only cost 3350 KRW and be MUCH faster.