Seoul Subway Line 3

Line 3
Seoul Metro 3000 series EMU in April 2024 (up) Korail Class 3000 EMU in April 2024 (down)
Overview
Native name	3호선(三號線) Sam Hoseon
Status	Operational
Termini	Daehwa Samsong / Suseo / Ogeum
Stations	44
Service
Type	Rapid transit / Commuter Rail
System	Seoul Metropolitan Subway
Operator(s)	Seoul Metro, Korail
Daily ridership	812,778 (2024)
Ridership	297.48 million (2024) ( 2.4%)
History
Opened	July 12, 1985 (July 12, 1985)
Last extension	2010
Technical
Line length	57.4 km (35.7 mi)
Number of tracks	2
Electrification	1,500 V DC overhead catenary
Operating speed	80 km/h (50 mph)

Seoul Subway Line 3 (dubbed The Orange Line) of the Seoul Metropolitan Subway is a rapid transit service that connects Eunpyeong District to Gangnam and southeastern Seoul. Most trains head further northwest to serve Goyang via the Ilsan Line. In 2021, the Seoul Metro operated section had an annual ridership of 237,469,000 or 650,600 passengers per day.

In December 2010 the line is recorded as having the second highest Wi-Fi data consumption in the Seoul Metropolitan area. It averaged 1.8 times more than the other 14 subway lines fitted with Wi-Fi service zones.

History

Construction began in 1980, and the first section of Line 3 opened (Gupabal–Yangjae; Jichuk opened in 1990) after the completion of work in two stages during 1985, along with subway Line 4. In October 1993, a second extension to the south was opened (Yangjae–Suseo).

In March 1996, the Korail Ilsan Line opened and allowed Line 3 trains to through operate all the way to the city of Goyang. There are two depots near Jichuk station and Suseo station, which are for both Korail and Seoul Metro.

A 3-kilometre (1.9 mi) extension opened on February 18, 2010, stretching from Suseo to Garak Market (Line 8) and Ogeum (Line 5).

On December 27, 2014, Wonheung station opened between Wondang and Samsong stations.

Tourism

In January 2013, the Seoul Metropolitan Rapid Transit Corporation, published free guidebooks in three languages: English, Japanese and Chinese (simplified and traditional), which features eight tours as well as recommendations for accommodations, restaurants and shopping centers. The tours are designed with different themes for travel along the subway lines, e.g. Korean traditional culture, which goes from Jongno 3-ga station to Anguk station and Gyeongbokgung station on this line that showcases antique shops and art galleries of Insa-dong.

Stations

Seoul Metropolitan Subway Line 3
Unjeong extension (Proposed) 309 Daehwa 310 Juyeop 311 Jeongbalsan 312 Madu 313 Baekseok 314 Daegok 315 Hwajeong 316 Wondang 317 Wonheung 318 Samsong Jichuk Depot 319 Jichuk ⬆️ Korail (Ilsan Line) ⬇️ Seoul Metro (Seoul Subway Line 3) Northbound turnback 320 Gupabal 321 Yeonsinnae towards Sinnae 322 Bulgwang via Dokbawi 323 Nokbeon 324 Hongje 325 Muakjae 326 Dongnimmun 327 Gyeongbokgung 328 Anguk 329 Jongno 3(sam)-ga 330 Euljiro 3(sam)-ga 331 Chungmuro Link with Line 4 332 Dongguk Univ. 333 Yaksu 334 Geumho 335 Oksu Dongho Bridge crossing Han river 336 Apgujeong 337 Sinsa 338 Jamwon 339 Express Bus Terminal 340 Seoul Nat'l Univ. of Education 341 Nambu Bus Terminal 342 Yangjae 343 Maebong 344 Dogok 345 Daechi 346 Hangnyeoul 347 Daecheong 348 Irwon 349 Suseo Suseo Depot 350 Garak Market 351 National Police Hospital 352 Ogeum Extension to Hanam City Hall (Proposed)

Station number	Station name English	Station name Hangul	Transfer	Line name	Distance in km	Total distance	Location
309	Daehwa	대화		Ilsan Line	---	0.0	Gyeonggi-do	Goyang-si
310	Juyeop	주엽			1.4	1.4
311	Jeongbalsan (Goyang AramNuri)	정발산 (고양아람누리)			1.6	3.0
312	Madu	마두			0.9	3.9
313	Baekseok (National Health Insurance Service Ilsan Hospital)	백석 (건강보험일산병원)			1.4	5.3
314	Daegok	대곡			2.5	7.8
315	Hwajeong	화정			2.1	9.9
316	Wondang	원당			2.6	12.5
317	Wonheung	원흥			2.9	15.4
318	Samsong	삼송			2.1	17.5
319	Jichuk	지축			1.7	19.2
320	Gupabal (Eunpyeong St. Mary's Hospital)	구파발 (은평성모병원)		Seoul Metro Line 3	1.5	20.7	Seoul	Eunpyeong-gu
321	Yeonsinnae	연신내			2.0	22.7
322	Bulgwang	불광			1.3	24.0
323	Nokbeon	녹번			1.1	25.1
324	Hongje	홍제			1.6	26.7		Seodaemun-gu
325	Muakjae	무악재			0.9	27.6
326	Dongnimmun	독립문			1.1	28.7
327	Gyeongbokgung (Government Complex-Seoul)	경복궁 (정부서울청사)			1.6	30.3		Jongno-gu
328	Anguk (Hyundai E & C)	안국 (현대건설)			1.1	31.4
329	Jongno 3(sam)-ga	종로3가			1.0	32.4
330	Euljiro 3(sam)-ga (Shinhan Card)	을지로3가 (신한카드)			0.6	33.0		Jung-gu
331	Chungmuro	충무로			0.7	33.7
332	Dongguk Univ.	동대입구			0.9	34.6
333	Yaksu	약수			0.7	35.3
334	Geumho	금호			0.8	36.1		Seongdong-gu
335	Oksu	옥수			0.8	36.9
336	Apgujeong (Hyundai Department Store)	압구정 (현대백화점)			2.1	39.0		Gangnam-gu
337	Sinsa	신사			1.5	40.5
338	Jamwon	잠원			0.9	41.4		Seocho-gu
339	Express Bus Terminal	고속터미널			1.2	42.6
340	Seoul Nat'l Univ. of Education (Court & Prosecutors' Office)	교대 (법원·검찰청)			1.6	44.2
341	Nambu Bus Terminal (Seoul Arts Center)	남부터미널 (예술의전당)			0.9	45.1
342	Yangjae (Seocho-gu Office)	양재 (서초구청)			1.8	46.9
343	Maebong	매봉			1.2	48.1		Gangnam-gu
344	Dogok	도곡			0.8	48.9
345	Daechi	대치			0.8	49.7
346	Hangnyeoul	학여울			0.8	50.5
347	Daecheong (SH Corporation)	대청 (서울주택도시공사)			0.9	51.4
348	Irwon	일원			1.2	52.6
349	Suseo	수서			1.8	54.4
350	Garak Market	가락시장			1.2	55.6		Songpa-gu
351	National Police Hospital	경찰병원			0.8	56.4
352	Ogeum	오금			0.6	57.0

Rolling stock

Current

• VVVF inverter-controlled electric car
  • First generation – since 2009
  • Second generation – since 2022
• Korail Class 3000
  • Second generation – since 2023
  • Third generation – since 2023

• 
  Seoul Metro 3000 series VVVF inverter-controlled (First generation)
• 
  Seoul Metro 3000 series VVVF inverter-controlled (Second generation)
• 
  Korail Class 3000 (Second generation)
• 
  Korail Class 3000 (Third generation)

Former

• Seoul Metro 3000 series
  • Chopper-controlled from GEC Traction electric car (from 1989–2022, some transferred from Seoul Subway Line 4)
  • Chopper-controlled from GEC Traction electric car (rebuilt cars) (from 2010–2022)
• Korail Class 3000
  • First generation (from 1995–2024)

• 
  Seoul Metro 3000 series Chopper-controlled EMU
• 
  Korail Class 3000 (First generation)

Ridership

Seoul Subway Line 3 Ridership
Year	Ridership	Change (%)	Remarks
2026
2025
2024	297,476,748	2.4
2023	290,572,000	8.9
2022	266,773,000	12.3
2021	237,469,000	1.0
2020	235,105,000	28.7	COVID-19 pandemic
2019	329,661,000	1.5	Highest on record
2018	324,831,000	0.8
2017	327,438,000	0.2
2016	328,117,000	14.6
2015	286,361,000	2.5
2014	293,775,000	1.4
2013	289,693,000	1.3
2012	286,037,000	1.1
2011	282,998,000	2.7
2010	275,467,000	7.0	Phase 3 opens
2009	257,501,000	0.4
2008	256,548,000	0.1
2007	256,173,000	0.5
2006	257,544,000	0.6
2005	259,166,000	2.3
2004	265,398,000	0.6
2003	263,873,000	0.5
2002	265,142,000	2.3
2001	259,142,000	9.0
2000	237,669,000	4.4
1999	227,611,000	2.7
1998	234,010,000	5.4
1997	247,368,000	-

See also

• Subways in South Korea
• Seoul Metropolitan Subway

External links

• Korail(in Korean)
• Seoul Metropolitan Government's Line 3 extension page (in Korean) includes a route map and status information for the extension from Suseo to Garak Market.
• UrbanRail.Net's Seoul Subway Page
• Map, station and route finder