# Seoul Subway Line 5

Seoul Subway Line 5 of the Seoul Metropolitan Subway, dubbed the purple line, is a long line crossing from west to the east across the Seoul National Capital Area, South Korea. It is one of two subway lines in Seoul to cross under the Han River (the other being the Suin-Bundang Line), which is done at two points (between Mapo and Yeouinaru, and also between Gwangnaru and Cheonho). The main line runs through to Hanam Geomdansan Station while the branch line from Gangdong Station terminates at Macheon Station. In 2019, Line 5 carried an annual ridership of 334 million or about 915,000 passengers per day.
The total length of this line is 58.9 kilometres (36.6 mi). Upon opening, it was among the longest underground railway tunnels of any kind constructed. Today it is the 8th longest continuous underground subway tunnel in the world, just behind Chengdu Metro Line 6, Qingdao Metro Line 1, Guangzhou Metro Line 18, Guangzhou Metro Line 3, Moscow Metro Bolshaya Koltsevaya Line, Beijing Subway Line 10 and Beijing Subway Line 6. Line 5 is also the first subway and passenger railway line in the Korean Peninsula to directly serve an airport, when the line was extended westward to Banghwa via Gimpo International Airport in 1996.

## History

The line was built 1990–1996 and is an important east–west link connecting Gimpo Airport, the Yeouido business area, downtown Seoul, and the Gangdong residential districts.
In 1996 Line 5 was implemented with Automatic train operation. However, it was deemed that a driver would be necessary in case of a breakdown of the automation system, therefore each subway train has one driver on board.
It was the world's longest underground railway line for 9 years until Guangzhou Metro Line 3 came into operation in 2005.
In December 2010 the line is recorded as having the third highest WiFi data consumption in the Seoul Metropolitan area. It averaged 1.67 times more than the other 14 subway lines fitted with WiFi service zones.
The main branch of the line was extended to the city of Hanam with a total of 5 stations spanning 6.5 km. The extension opened in two stages; the first opened on August 8, 2020, and the other opened on March 27, 2021.

## Tourism

In January 2013, the Seoul Metropolitan Rapid Transit Corporation, which operated the line at the time, published free guidebooks features eight tours as well as recommendations for accommodations, restaurants and shopping centers. These guidebooks were printed in three languages: English, Japanese and Chinese (simplified and traditional). They 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. The destinations range from Jongno 3-ga Station to Anguk Station and Gyeongbokgung Station on line No 3 showcasing antique shops and art galleries of Insa-dong.
In the summer of 2013, the Seoul Metropolitan Rapid Transit Corporation to display water parks that are located near stations operated by the Seoul Metropolitan Rapid Transit Corporation on the LCD display screens both inside the train, and on the station platforms.

## Stations
### Main Line

| Station Number | Station Name English | Station Name Hangul | Station Name Hanja | Transfer | Distance in km | Total Distance | Location | Location |
| 510 | Banghwa | 방화 | 傍花 | | --- | 0.0 | Seoul | Gangseo-gu |
| 511 | Gaehwasan | 개화산 | 開花山 | | 0.9 | 0.9 | Seoul | Gangseo-gu |
| 512 | Gimpo Int'l Airport | 김포공항 | 金浦空港 | | 1.2 | 2.1 | Seoul | Gangseo-gu |
| 513 | Songjeong | 송정 | 松亭 | | 1.2 | 3.3 | Seoul | Gangseo-gu |
| 514 | Magok (Home & Shopping) | 마곡 (홈앤쇼핑) | 麻谷 | | 1.1 | 4.4 | Seoul | Gangseo-gu |
| 515 | Balsan | 발산 | 鉢山 | | 1.2 | 5.6 | Seoul | Gangseo-gu |
| 516 | Ujangsan | 우장산 | 雨裝山 | | 1.1 | 6.7 | Seoul | Gangseo-gu |
| 517 | Hwagok | 화곡 | 禾谷 | | 1.0 | 7.7 | Seoul | Gangseo-gu |
| 518 | Kkachisan | 까치산 | 까치山 | (Sinjeong branch) | 1.2 | 8.9 | Seoul | Gangseo-gu |
| 519 | Sinjeong (Eunhaengjeong) | 신정 (은행정) | 新亭 | | 1.3 | 10.2 | Seoul | Yangcheon-gu |
| 520 | Mok-dong | 목동 | 木洞 | | 0.8 | 11.0 | Seoul | Yangcheon-gu |
| 521 | Omokgyo (Mokdong Stadium) | 오목교 (목동운동장앞) | 梧木橋 | | 0.9 | 11.9 | Seoul | Yangcheon-gu |
| 522 | Yangpyeong | 양평 | 楊坪 | | 1.1 | 13.0 | Seoul | Yeongdeungpo-gu |
| 523 | Yeongdeungpo-gu Office | 영등포구청 | 永登浦區廳 | | 0.8 | 13.8 | Seoul | Yeongdeungpo-gu |
| 524 | Yeongdeungpo Market | 영등포시장 | 永登浦市場 | | 0.9 | 14.7 | Seoul | Yeongdeungpo-gu |
| 525 | Singil | 신길 | 新吉 | | 1.1 | 15.8 | Seoul | Yeongdeungpo-gu |
| 526 | Yeouido | 여의도 | 汝矣島 | | 1.0 | 16.8 | Seoul | Yeongdeungpo-gu |
| 527 | Yeouinaru | 여의나루 | 汝矣나루 | | 1.0 | 17.8 | Seoul | Yeongdeungpo-gu |
| 528 | Mapo | 마포 | 麻浦 | | 1.8 | 19.6 | Seoul | Mapo-gu |
| 529 | Gongdeok | 공덕 | 孔德 | | 0.8 | 20.4 | Seoul | Mapo-gu |
| 530 | Aeogae | 애오개 | 애오개 | | 1.1 | 21.5 | Seoul | Mapo-gu |
| 531 | Chungjeongno (Kyonggi Univ.) | 충정로 (경기대입구) | 忠正路 | | 0.9 | 22.4 | Seoul | Seodaemun-gu |
| 532 | Seodaemun (Kangbuk Samsung Hospital) | 서대문 (강북삼성병원) | 西大門 | | 0.7 | 23.1 | Seoul | Jongno-gu |
| 533 | Gwanghwamun (Sejong Center for the Performing Arts) | 광화문 (세종문화회관) | 光化門 | | 1.1 | 24.2 | Seoul | Jongno-gu |
| 534 | Jongno 3(sam)-ga (Tapgol Park) | 종로3가 (탑골공원) | 鍾路3街 | | 1.2 | 25.4 | Seoul | Jongno-gu |
| 535 | Euljiro 4(sa)-ga (BC Card) | 을지로4가 (BC카드) | 乙支路4街 | | 1.0 | 26.4 | Seoul | Jung-gu |
| 536 | Dongdaemun History & Culture Park (DDP) | 동대문역사문화공원 (DDP) | 東大門歷史文化公園 | | 0.9 | 27.3 | Seoul | Jung-gu |
| 537 | Cheonggu | 청구 | 靑丘 | | 0.9 | 28.2 | Seoul | Jung-gu |
| 538 | Singeumho | 신금호 | 新金湖 | | 0.9 | 29.1 | Seoul | Seongdong-gu |
| 539 | Haengdang | 행당 | 杏堂 | | 0.8 | 29.9 | Seoul | Seongdong-gu |
| 540 | Wangsimni (Seongdong-gu Office) | 왕십리 (성동구청) | 往十里 | | 0.9 | 30.8 | Seoul | Seongdong-gu |
| 541 | Majang | 마장 | 馬場 | | 0.7 | 31.5 | Seoul | Seongdong-gu |
| 542 | Dapsimni | 답십리 | 踏十里 | | 1.0 | 32.5 | Seoul | Dongdaemun-gu |
| 543 | Janghanpyeong | 장한평 | 長漢坪 | | 1.2 | 33.7 | Seoul | Dongdaemun-gu |
| 544 | Gunja (Neung-dong) | 군자 (능동) | 君子 | | 1.5 | 35.2 | Seoul | Gwangjin-gu |
| 545 | Achasan (Rear Entrance to Seoul Children's Grand Park) | 아차산 (어린이대공원후문) | 峨嵯山 | | 1.0 | 36.2 | Seoul | Gwangjin-gu |
| 546 | Gwangnaru (Presbyterian Univ. & Theological Seminary) | 광나루 (장신대) | 광나루 | | 1.5 | 37.7 | Seoul | Gwangjin-gu |
| 547 | Cheonho (Pungnaptoseong) | 천호 (풍납토성) | 千戶 | | 2.0 | 39.7 | Seoul | Gangdong-gu |
| 548 | Gangdong (Kangdong Sacred Heart Hospital) | 강동 (강동성심병원) | 江東 | (for Macheon) | 0.8 | 40.5 | Seoul | Gangdong-gu |
| 549 | Gil-dong | 길동 | 吉洞 | | 0.9 | 41.4 | Seoul | Gangdong-gu |
| 550 | Gubeundari (Gangdong Community Center) | 굽은다리 (강동구민회관앞) | 굽은다리 | | 0.8 | 42.2 | Seoul | Gangdong-gu |
| 551 | Myeongil | 명일 | 明逸 | | 0.7 | 42.9 | Seoul | Gangdong-gu |
| 552 | Godeok (Kyung Hee Univ. Hospital at Gangdong) | 고덕 (강동경희대병원) | 高德 | | 1.2 | 44.1 | Seoul | Gangdong-gu |
| 553 | Sangil-dong | 상일동 | 上一洞 | | 1.1 | 45.2 | Seoul | Gangdong-gu |
| 554 | Gangil | 강일 | 江一 | | 0.7 | 45.9 | Seoul | Gangdong-gu |
| 555 | Misa | 미사 | 渼沙 | | 1.7 | 47.6 | Gyeonggi-do | Hanam-si |
| 556 | Hanam Pungsan | 하남풍산 | 河南豊山 | | 2.1 | 49.7 | Gyeonggi-do | Hanam-si |
| 557 | Hanam City Hall (Deokpung & Sinjang) | 하남시청 (덕풍·신장) | 河南市廳 | | 1.3 | 51.0 | Gyeonggi-do | Hanam-si |
| 558 | Hanam Geomdansan | 하남검단산 | 河南黔丹山 | | 1.7 | 52.7 | Gyeonggi-do | Hanam-si |

### Macheon Branch

| Station Number | Station Name English | Station Name Hangul | Station Name Hanja | Transfer | Distance in km | Total Distance | Location | Location |
| 548 | Gangdong (Kangdong Sacred Heart Hospital) | 강동 (강동성심병원) | 江東 | (for Hanam Geomdansan) | 0.8 | 40.5 | Seoul | Gangdong-gu |
| P549 | Dunchon-dong | 둔촌동 | 遁村洞 | | 1.2 | 41.7 | Seoul | Gangdong-gu |
| P550 | Olympic Park (Korea National Sport Univ.) | 올림픽공원 (한국체대) | 奥林匹克公园 | | 1.4 | 43.1 | Seoul | Songpa-gu |
| P551 | Bangi | 방이 | 芳荑 | | 0.9 | 44.0 | Seoul | Songpa-gu |
| P552 | Ogeum | 오금 | 梧琴 | | 0.9 | 44.9 | Seoul | Songpa-gu |
| P553 | Gaerong | 개롱 | 開籠 | | 0.9 | 45.8 | Seoul | Songpa-gu |
| P554 | Geoyeo | 거여 | 巨余 | | 0.9 | 46.7 | Seoul | Songpa-gu |
| P555 | Macheon | 마천 | 馬川 | | 0.9 | 47.6 | Seoul | Songpa-gu |

## Rolling stock
### Current
#### Seoul Metro

* Seoul Metro 5000 series
** 1st generation – since 1994 (Retired)
** 2nd generation – since 1996
** 3rd generation – since 2018
** 4th generation – since 2021
** (Future) 5th generation – since 2024
** (Future) 6th generation – since 2026
* Seoul Metro 5000 series EMU (2nd generation)
* Seoul Metro 5000 series EMU (3rd generation)
* Seoul Metro 5000 series (4th generation)