The short answer: for a Hongdae night bus after midnight, five Seoul Owl Bus routes currently stop at Hongik University Station after the subway winds down: N26, N51, N62, N72 and N73. A separate weekday autonomous night route, A21, also uses the two stops but has different operating and fare rules. The harder part is choosing the correct side of the central bus lane. Use stop 14015 near Hongik Univ. Station Exit 8 for the cross-city direction toward central and eastern Seoul, or stop 14016 near Exit 2 for the opposite direction. Check the route, destination and live arrival in Seoul Bus or TOPIS before you leave your venue; there is no single “last Hongdae night bus” time.
Routes, stops and fare checked July 27, 2026
Seoul’s live bus system listed N26, N51, N62, N72 and N73 at both Hongdae central-lane stops when checked, plus the separate weekday autonomous route A21. The published adult Owl Bus N-route fare was ₩2,500 by transportation card or cash; that fare statement does not cover A21. Routes, detours and arrival estimates are operational information, so use the live city system on the night of travel.
Match the five-digit stop number, not only “Hongdae.”
Both sides are named 홍대입구역(중). Stop 14015 and stop 14016 are in opposite directions. Boarding on the wrong side can take you across Seoul before there is a practical place to recover.
The two Hongdae night-bus stops that matter
| Stop | Korean name | Subway reference | Use this side for |
|---|---|---|---|
| 14015 | 홍대입구역(중) | Near Hongik Univ. Station Exit 8 | Central or eastern corridors, including central Seoul, Dongdaemun, Wangsimni, Cheongnyangni, Seongsu, Konkuk University and Jamsil depending on route |
| 14016 | 홍대입구역(중) | Near Hongik Univ. Station Exit 2 | Western or southwestern corridors, including Hapjeong, Dangsan, Yeomchang, Mokdong, Yeongdeungpo, Guro, Mangwon and Sangam depending on route |
The “(중)” in the Korean stop name means the stop is in the center lane. Do not wait at a curbside stop merely because it also contains “Hongdae” in English. The official stop coordinates and the current route list are more reliable than a saved social-media map.
These map pins are for physical orientation. Use Seoul Bus or TOPIS—not a map pin—as the authority for whether a bus is operating, its live arrival, a temporary detour or its final destination.
Which route should you take from Hongdae?
Start with the destination neighborhood, then choose the route and side. The endpoints printed on the bus can be unfamiliar garage names, so the useful corridors below translate the official stop sequence into a traveler decision.
| Route | From 14015 near Exit 8 | From 14016 near Exit 2 |
|---|---|---|
| N26 | Toward Jungnang: Gwanghwamun, Jongno, Dongdaemun, Sinseoldong, Cheongnyangni and Mangwoo | Toward Gangseo: Hapjeong, Dangsan, Yeomchang, Balsan and Songjeong |
| N51 | Toward Hagye: Seoul Station area, Gwanghwamun, Dongdaemun and northern Seoul | Toward Siheung-dong: Hapjeong, Dangsan, Yeongdeungpo and Guro Digital Complex |
| N62 | Toward Myeonmok: Seoul Station area, Jongno, Dongdaemun Design Plaza, Wangsimni, Seongsu and Konkuk University | Toward Yangcheon: Hapjeong, Yeomchang and Mokdong |
| N72 | Toward Jungnang: Gongdeok, Itaewon, Yaksu, Sinseoldong, Cheongnyangni and Mangwoo | Toward Eunpyeong: Hapjeong, Mangwon, Mapo-gu Office and Sangam DMC |
| N73 | Toward Bokjeong: Seoul Station area, Dongdaemun Design Plaza, Wangsimni, Seongsu, Konkuk University and Jamsil | Toward Gusan-dong: the western Hongdae and Seongsan corridor, then northwest Seoul |
Weekday A21 exception: Seoul’s system also lists 심야A21(자율주행) at both central stops, with no Saturday or Sunday service. Use 14015 toward Dongdaemun and 14016 toward Hapjeong. A21 is not one of the five Owl Bus N-routes in the table, so check its live operation, transportation-card requirement and current fare separately before relying on it.
This is a route-choice table, not a complete stop list. Search your exact hotel or destination in Korean and make sure the chosen bus stops there. If an English place name produces several branches, follow the Korean-address search workflow before leaving Wi-Fi.
Going to Gangnam Station?
Do not wait at 14015 or 14016 assuming every N-bus serves Gangnam. The current N75 route reaches Gangnam from the nearby 동교동삼거리 stop 14061 in the direction of 신림2동차고지, but it does not use either exact Hongdae central stop in this guide. Let the live planner confirm that walk, stop number, direction and arrival before choosing it; otherwise use a taxi.
How to check live arrivals without guessing
- Search the five-digit stop number: 14015 or 14016.
- Find the N-route or A21 result suggested for your destination.
- Confirm the destination label and the next stops, not only the route number.
- Read the live arrival and any detour message. A route existing in the system does not mean another bus will reach Hongdae that night.
- Check again when you reach the platform. Night traffic, road work and events can change the estimate.
Local map apps are useful for door-to-door planning, but the city operator remains authoritative for route operation. The Seoul subway and map-app guide explains how to compare Korean station names, route directions and app results.
Fare, card and transfer rules
Seoul’s published adult Owl Bus fare was ₩2,500 by transportation card or cash when checked. A transportation card is the easier option because it preserves transfer eligibility and avoids handling money at night.
- Board through the front door and tap once.
- Press the stop bell before your destination.
- Tap again at the rear-door reader before leaving.
- At night, the published transfer window is up to 60 minutes between 21:00 and 07:00 when the card is tapped correctly.
- A transfer is not automatically free: integrated distance charges can still apply, and the same route is not eligible as a transfer.
Top up before going out. Ordinary T-money and short-term Climate Card payment rules are not interchangeable; use the T-money card guide for the current purchase, top-up and refund process. Keep a modest cash reserve and a second international card using the Korea payment fallback plan.
When a taxi is the better backup
Choose a taxi when the live system shows no more useful bus, when the route requires a difficult night transfer, when the final stop is far from your accommodation, or when several travelers can share one car. A night bus is not automatically the cheapest practical choice after adding a second taxi at the far end.
For a visitor-focused taxi backup, install k.ride before going out. Its operator says the app supports destination search in multiple languages, an estimated fare before the call and international-traveler use. Korea Tourism Organization also lists it among visitor-friendly ride-hailing options. Kakao T or another supported taxi app can be a backup if your account and payment flow already work.
- Register and test the app while you have reliable data.
- Save the Korean hotel address and confirm the map pin is the correct branch.
- Move away from the center bus platform to a pickup point accepted by the app.
- Match the vehicle plate in the app before boarding.
- Check whether payment is automatic or due to the driver so you do not pay twice.
- Keep the electronic or printed receipt for lost-property or fare follow-up.
Official sources
- Seoul Public Transportation: live route, stop and arrival information
- Seoul TOPIS: live transport operation information
- Seoul Metropolitan Government: Hongdae stop codes and nearest subway exits
- Seoul Metropolitan Government: how to use buses and live information
- Seoul Metropolitan Government: Owl Bus fares and transfer rules
- Seoul Metropolitan Government: citywide Owl Bus network
- Seoul Metropolitan Government: A21 autonomous night-bus route
- Korea Tourism Organization: ride-hailing apps in Korea
- Kakao Mobility: official k.ride information
Update history: first fully sourced edition prepared July 27, 2026. Recheck the exact stop, route direction, live arrival, detour notice and fare before a time-critical trip.