Redesigning Korea’s National Subway Map
Used by Millions Every Day

As the UX Designer, I redesign of Korea’s national subway map to resolve structural inconsistencies and geographic inaccuracy. I owned the full process—from global benchmarking and system formulation to map design, validation, and nationwide rollout.

View Subway Map

Product

Naver Map

Naver Map

Platform

Mobile App & PC Web

Role

UX Designer

UX Designer

Timeline

6 Month

Naver Map

Mobile App & PC Web

UX Designer

6 Month

Project Summary

Project Summary

Problems

The previous map lacked a unified system, causing visual inconsistency, geographic distortion, and a structure that broke every time new lines were added.

Goals

Establish a scalable, rule-based design system that restores geographic accuracy and ensures clear, consistent visual standards across all lines.

Result & Impact

The redesigned subway map evolved into a clear, accurate, and scalable system that was deployed nationwide, earning four major awards, including the Red Dot Best of Best and resulting in 19 patents.

Problems

Problems

Lack of System Rules → Broken Information Structure & No Scalability

The previous map had no unified design system.
Inconsistent line weights, station hierarchy, and terminal styles made it hard to read and impossible to scale.
As new lines were added, stations were patched in without structural balance, making the layout increasingly confusing and unstable.

Lack of System Rules → Broken Information Structure & No Scalability

The previous map had no unified design system.
Inconsistent line weights, station hierarchy, and terminal styles made it hard to read and impossible to scale.
As new lines were added, stations were patched in without structural balance, making the layout increasingly confusing and unstable.

Geographic distortions that misled users about actual locations
Without spatial rules, the map drifted away from real geography. Stations far apart looked close, while nearby stations appeared disconnected. These distortions caused users to misjudge distances, transfer times, and optimal routes—ultimately reducing trust.

Geographic distortions that misled users about actual locations
Without spatial rules, the map drifted away from real geography. Stations far apart looked close, while nearby stations appeared disconnected. These distortions caused users to misjudge distances, transfer times, and optimal routes—ultimately reducing trust.

Subway Map System Design Principles

Subway Map System Design Principles

The subway map is built from six core components — lines, stations, labels, symbols, color, and layout.

Each component follows clear rules to ensure consistent, readable, and scalable map design.

The subway map is built from six core components — lines, stations, labels, symbols, color, and layout.

Each component follows clear rules to ensure consistent, readable, and scalable map design.

Lines

Use differentiated line weights for main lines, express routes, and branches to support instant visual recognition.

Stations

Define distinct shapes for regular stations, major transfer hubs, and terminal stations to reflect hierarchy and function.

Labels

Apply variable label weights and spacing based on station importance and density to improve clarity in crowded areas.

Symbols

Use simplified pictograms for transportation facilities and landmarks to ensure quick recognition across zoom levels.

Colors

Use a controlled and consistent color system that remains perceptible across devices while reducing visual clutter.

Layout

Align line geometry with real geography while reducing unnecessary distortion to help users estimate distance intuitively.

Lines : Systematizing design elements

Lines : Systematizing design elements

Classified the lines into clear categories and applied distinct visual rules to reflect each line’s identity.

By representing the natural curvature and continuity of the actual tracks, the system improves users’ understanding of branches within the same route.

Classified the lines into clear categories and applied distinct visual rules to reflect each line’s identity.

By representing the natural curvature and continuity of the actual tracks, the system improves users’ understanding of branches within the same route.

Stations : Systematizing design elements

Stations : Systematizing design elements

Established clear visual rules to differentiate regular stations and transfer stations, improving the legibility of complex routes across metro, commuter rail, light rail, and extension lines.

Established clear visual rules to differentiate regular stations and transfer stations, improving the legibility of complex routes across metro, commuter rail, light rail, and extension lines.

Labels: Systematizing design elements

Labels: Systematizing design elements

Regular stations use regular text, while transfer and terminal stations use bold text for faster recognition.

Route names are placed inside the line for compact and consistent labeling.

Regular stations use regular text, while transfer and terminal stations use bold text for faster recognition.

Route names are placed inside the line for compact and consistent labeling.

Symbols : Systematizing design elements

Symbols : Systematizing design elements

A unified symbol system was created to represent major facilities and landmarks with consistent visual rules.

Each symbol was designed as a simplified pictogram for quick recognition across zoom levels, and categorized into four groups based on user needs.

A unified symbol system was created to represent major facilities and landmarks with consistent visual rules.

Each symbol was designed as a simplified pictogram for quick recognition across zoom levels, and categorized into four groups based on user needs.

Colors : Systematizing design elements

Colors : Systematizing design elements

Subway line colors serve as core visual identifiers. While users may not recall every line precisely, key colors are widely recognized and culturally established. I preserved this identity while refining each hue for better clarity, contrast, and consistency across digital devices.

Subway line colors serve as core visual identifiers. While users may not recall every line precisely, key colors are widely recognized and culturally established. I preserved this identity while refining each hue for better clarity, contrast, and consistency across digital devices.

Layout: Systematizing design elements

Layout: Systematizing design elements

The metro area map used to cause confusion because distances and locations were distorted. While it’s not possible to show every detail exactly, the design keeps the correct directions and simplifies distances to avoid geographic confusion.

The metro area map used to cause confusion because distances and locations were distorted. While it’s not possible to show every detail exactly, the design keeps the correct directions and simplifies distances to avoid geographic confusion.

Design Development

Design Development

Using the systemized elements defined earlier, I refined the map through three iterative steps.

Using the systemized elements defined earlier, I refined the map through three iterative steps.

Interaction System: Mobile-friendly ratio is 4:3

Interaction System: Mobile-friendly ratio is 4:3

Tested various ratios such as 4:3, 5:3, 3:2, and 16:9, and chose 4:3 as the most suitable for the route layout. It was determined that the readability of the entire route and individual lines is better in a rectangular frame than in a square frame.
These interaction improvements reduced zooming/friction, helped users orient themselves faster, and improved task completion in mobile navigation.

Tested various ratios such as 4:3, 5:3, 3:2, and 16:9, and chose 4:3 as the most suitable for the route layout. It was determined that the readability of the entire route and individual lines is better in a rectangular frame than in a square frame.
These interaction improvements reduced zooming/friction, helped users orient themselves faster, and improved task completion in mobile navigation.

Interaction System: Surfacing Directional Info During Route Planning

Interaction System: Surfacing Directional Info During Route Planning

Mobile users primarily open subway maps to figure out which direction they need to take. Because operating hours differ across lines, I introduced an interaction that dims lines not currently running—allowing users to confirm their direction quickly, especially during early mornings and late nights.

Mobile users primarily open subway maps to figure out which direction they need to take. Because operating hours differ across lines, I introduced an interaction that dims lines not currently running—allowing users to confirm their direction quickly, especially during early mornings and late nights.

Interaction System: Display line numbers in Zoom-in mode

Interaction System: Display line numbers in Zoom-in mode

In Zoom-in mode, line numbers are displayed within the screen to reduce the need for interaction to check the numbers at the ends of the routes.

In Zoom-in mode, line numbers are displayed within the screen to reduce the need for interaction to check the numbers at the ends of the routes.

Results & Impact

Results & Impact

01

01

Distributed subway maps at stations

Distributed subway maps at stations

The subway map I created was printed and distributed as portable maps for all subway stations in collaboration with the Seoul city.

The subway map I created was printed and distributed as portable maps for all subway stations in collaboration with the Seoul city.

02

02

Won 4 awards, including Red Dot 2015 Best of Best

Won 4 awards, including Red Dot 2015 Best of Best

The subway map design won several major domestic and international design awards and resulted in 19 patent applications and registrations.

The subway map design won several major domestic and international design awards and resulted in 19 patent applications and registrations.

03

03

Exhibited at Naver HQ and interviewed

Exhibited at Naver HQ and interviewed

Showcased at Naver Library and featured in Monthly Design. (March 2015 issue)

Showcased at Naver Library and featured in Monthly Design. (March 2015 issue)

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