Seoul continues Subway map reboot

Seoul Metropolitan Government on Wednesday unveiled redesigned route maps of the city's subway lines, as part of its first major design revamp in 40 years.

The new designs will be used in train cars and on platforms and screen doors starting at the end of the year, following cooperation with Seoul Metro on visual, color and information design, an official told The Korea Herald.

According to the city government, the overhaul aims to create a standardized, user-friendly design that enhances readability for all passengers, including tourists, seniors and people with color vision deficiency.

Currently, Seoul uses maps for specific lines that vary in format and are often difficult to interpret due to inconsistent symbols, unclear directions and a lack of multilingual station codes.

With the city’s subway network having expanded to 23 lines across more than 600 stations, including ultra-long routes like Line No. 1, which stretches 218 km across four metropolitan areas, the need for a unified and intuitive design has become urgent.

The new map will be presented in three formats — horizontal, vertical and square (particularly for screen door placements) — and will adopt the city's proprietary font, Seoul Alrim-che, designed to reflect the aesthetic sensibilities of Millennials and Generation Z, the city government explained.

Key features of the subway line map redesign include: color schemes accessible to colorblind users; signal-style markings for transfer stations; multilingual station numbering; and geographical indicators such as Han River crossings and city boundaries.

The redesigned maps will also incorporate 14 custom pictograms representing Seoul’s iconic tourist destinations like Seoul City Hall, the Dongdaemun Design Plaza and N Seoul Tower. These elements are intended to improve navigation while enhancing the visual experience. Seoul plans to develop related merchandise to further promote the city’s brand.

The new line maps will be showcased using transparent OLED displays at Yeouido Station on Subway Line No. 5. A total of 32 transparent 55-inch OLED panels developed by LG Display will be installed inside platform screen doors, offering video-based route maps while preserving visibility and providing real-time route and safety information. This project is part of a national initiative to create new display markets, supported by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy.