Seoul Subway Line 6 is a line of the Seoul Metropolitan Subway. The route connects Eunpyeong-gu and Jungnang-gu in a U-shaped manner, running through Yongsan-gu and Seongbuk-gu. It does not cross the Han River. It is mainly used to connect to the northern outskirts of Seoul and to relieve the traffic on other lines.
Line 6 has a unique arrow-shaped station sign design not shared with its fellow lines. The main part of the sign has the shape of a chevron pointing in the direction trains run, with the number printed in the top half, the Hangul name of the station in the middle, and the bottom half containing the English and Hanja names. An arm pointing out of the "front" (the pointed end) of the chevron indicates the next station, while an arm pointing out of the "back" (the indent) of the chevron indicates the previous station. The design is similar to Line 5, 7, and 8's station signs, but with a chevron instead of a triangle.
The line primarily operates in the section between Eungam and Sinnae, though some trains end one station before at Bonghwasan. When a train arrives at Eungam, it runs through what is commonly known as the "Eungam Loop," a one-way counterclockwise loop consisting of several stations. After going through the stations of the Eungam Loop, the train reaches Eungam again, from which it continues to Bonghwasan or Sinnae.
History The line started construction in 1994. A short section of the line from Bonghwasan to Sangwolgok opened in August 2000 while the remaining section opened in December of the same year. However, it was not until March 2001 that the whole line was fully operational when the four stations from Itaewon to Yaksu were opened.
Upon the opening of the electrified Gyeongchun Line in December 2010, Seoul Metro proposed extending the line 1 km eastward to connect to the Gyeongchun Line at a new Sinnae station, located in the current Sinnae Depot. Construction on the station started in late 2018 and the extension opened on 21 December 2019. In 2019, Line 6 had an annual ridership of 205 million or about 562 thousand people per day.
Tourism In January 2013, the Seoul Metropolitan Rapid Transit Corporation, which operates this line, 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. These were distributed from information centers on this line. 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 line 3 that showcases antique shops and art galleries of Insa-dong.
Stations All stations are located in Seoul. Current Routes Eungam — Bonghwasan via Eungam loop (most trains) Eungam — Sinnae via Eungam loop (selected trains)
Stations StationNumber Station Name Station Name Transfer Line Name Distance TotalDistanceLocation Eungam Yeokchon Bulgwang Dokbawi Yeonsinnae Gusan Eungam Saejeol (Sinsa) Jeungsan (Myongji University) Digital Media City World Cup Stadium (Seongsan) Mapo-gu Office Mangwon Hapjeong (Holt Children's Services Inc.) Sangsu Gwangheungchang (Seogang) Daeheung (Sogang University) Gongdeok Hyochang Park Samgakji Noksapyeong (Yongsan-gu Office) Itaewon Hangangjin Beotigogae Yaksu Cheonggu Sindang Dongmyo Changsin Bomun Anam (Korea Univ. Hospital) Korea University (Jongam) Wolgok (Dongduk Women's University) Sangwolgok (KIST) Dolgoji Seokgye Taereung Hwarangdae (Seoul Women's Univ.) Bonghwasan (Seoul Medical Center) Sinnae
Rolling stock
Current Seoul Metro Seoul Metro 6000 series 1st generation – since 1999
Ridership Seoul Subway Line 6 RidershipYearRidershipChange (%)Remarks202696,779,361Updated as of June 20262025190,648,157 0.32024191,147,160 2.72023186,073,000 9.12022170,514,000 13.32021150,515,000 1.62020148,148,000 27.6COVID-19 pandemic2019204,576,000 0.6 Highest on record Opening of Sinnae extension2018203,287,000 0.82017205,011,000 0.22016204,508,000 3.92015196,924,000 0.12014197,176,000 2.52013192,432,000 2.02012188,572,000 3.22011182,791,000 2.92010177,622,000 7.82009164,820,000 1.72008162,045,000 2.32007158,442,000 0.22006158,188,000 2.92005153,781,000 0.22004153,433,000 8.52003141,379,000 9.12002129,571,000 26.72001102,273,000 2,007.4Opening of four infill stations between Noksapyeong and Cheonggu20004,853,000 -Operations began on August 7, 2000
Notes
See also
Subways in South Korea Seoul Metropolitan Rapid Transit Corporation Seoul Metropolitan Subway
References