Which Seoul subway station generates the most transit card revenue?
An analysis of Seoul Metro's transit card revenue data for the first six months of this year shows that Gangnam, Jamsil and Hongdae stations took turns leading the monthly rankings, with each hub's distinct usage patterns clearly reflected in the figures.
All three stations recorded average daily ridership of more than 150,000 passengers last year, ranking them among the top three busiest stations in the Seoul subway system.
From January through June, Gangnam Station led monthly transit card revenue in January, February, March and June; Jamsil Station topped the rankings in April; and Hongdae Station came in first in May. Even among Seoul's most prominent transit hubs, the monthly leader shifted with the seasons, events and tourism demand, reflecting the city's varied patterns of movement.
Gangnam Station recorded the highest cumulative transit card revenue in the Seoul subway system over the first half of this year, averaging more than 2.8 billion won per month from January through June. As the heart of Seoul's densest concentration of office buildings and commercial facilities, the station consistently draws commuters, shoppers and leisure travelers alike.
Gangnam Station held the same top position last year, averaging about 2.7 billion won per month in transit card revenue across all 12 months.
Jamsil Station posted its highest monthly transit card revenue of the year in April, surpassing 3 billion won. The surge is attributed to the Seokchon Lake Cherry Blossom Festival, which began that month, along with a wave of pop-up stores that opened in the Jamsil area and the start of the professional baseball season.
Seasonal events near Jamsil Station have consistently tracked with its revenue rankings. Last year, the station also recorded its highest monthly figures in April — when the cherry blossom festival drew crowds — at 2.6 billion won, and in December at 3.1 billion won, when Christmas and year-end events filled the area.
Hongdae Station posted its highest monthly revenue of the year in May, driven by demand for tourism and cultural content. A sharp influx of foreign visitors that month — as Japan's Golden Week and China's Labor Day holiday brought large numbers of tourists to the Hongdae area — contributed to the increase.
Hongdae Station recorded the same pattern last year, topping the monthly revenue rankings in May with more than 2.6 billion won in transit card receipts.
The data show each of Seoul's three leading transit hubs drawing on a distinct source of demand: steady business and retail traffic at Gangnam, major sporting events and performances at Jamsil, and tourism and cultural consumption at Hongdae — each claiming the monthly revenue top spot in its own season.
Seoul Metro said the analysis confirmed that transit card revenue serves as more than a simple measure of ridership — it is an indicator of the city's broader patterns of movement, encompassing residents' daily routines, tourism, cultural activities and leisure.
"The monthly shifts in which station leads transit card revenue are an important dataset that captures not just commuting but the full range of urban activity in Seoul — tourism, culture, sports and consumption," said Ma Hae-geun, head of Seoul Metro's business division. "We will continue to analyze passenger movement patterns using transit data to deliver ever more convenient service."
seouldream01@heraldcorp.com
