Overview

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The are two main subway lines in Busan, Line 1 and Line 2. Upon completion of the second line, the subway will stop at over 100 stations all over the city and the surrounding area. The intersection point of the two lines is Seomyeon Station, which is Stop 19 of line 1. The areas around Seomyeon and Nampodong Stations are home to underground shopping malls featuring hundreds of small shops selling a variety of electronics, clothing, sporting goods and an eclectic mix of other goods.

Line 1 travels North-South. It starts in the north at Nopodong and travels 39 stops until it reaches Shinpyong at the southern edge of the city. Construction of this subway line was completed in 1995. 

Line 2 will, upon completion, extend from the city of Yangsan, north of Pusan, all the way to the beach-side resort of Haeundae. Line 2 starts at the intersection point between the two lines in Seomyeon and heads  west 6 stops to Churye, where it vears north and follows the river Han until it reaches Hop'o. A new extension will be completed on the north end of Line 2, from Hop'o to Yangsan, including some 22 extra stops by mid-2002. Extension of Line 2 that heads in an easterly direction toward Haeundae has developed as a two-phase project. The first part, from Hop'o through Seomyeon, proceeding east to Kwanganli, opened in 2001 and the second section which will continue the line east until it reaches Haeundae, is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2002. 

Tickets and hanaro cards
When using the subway there are two options available to pay for your travel along the lines. 

The first is to invest in a Hanaro card. The card costs 2000 won, and can credited with amounts of up to 10000 won at a time. The card has three advantages over the regular ticket. 1) You don't have to go through the tiresome exercise of finding your change and waiting in line to purchase a ticket every time you use the subway. 2) It's about 10% cheaper. 3) You don't have to make adjustments for the length of your travel. The Hanaro card is also valid on buses and will eventually be so for taxis and other services. It is easy to purchase one of these cards yourself. Simply approach the glass windowed office  in any subway station and ask for a Hah Nah Roh Cah-duh. As with all other requests of this kind, make as many positive hand gestures as possible. It is also useful to give the attendant the exact change of 12000 won, to make it even more clear of your intentions.  To add credit to your card, simply give the attendant your card and at least 10000 won to add.  Cards can also be purchased and credit purchased at any store posting an Hanaro sign outside.  Many convenience stores (like Family Mart and LG25) and other assorted shops offer this service.

The easiest way to purchase a ticket to use the subway is to approach the attendant in the fishbowl style office that has been placed inside each subway center. Simply tell the attendant your subway destination and give him either 500 won for a sub-ten stop trip, and 600 for a longer trip. 
In order to purchase a ticket you approach the large square tin cans that appear all over the subway.    You can also purchase tickets from automatic vending machines.  There are columns for single and round trips.  The top rows of numbers refer to the number of passengers, the second rows to the length of the trip.  Press the appropriate numbers and the tickets should automatically be dispensed.  The ticket is inserted and returned at the entrance booth, inserted and kept upon exiting.  Hanaro cards can be kept in a wallet and  waved over the scanner atop the entrance/exit stalls.

Etiquette
The general rules of etiquette are fairly straightforward. 
When entering a subway car passengers generally enter from either side of the door. This allows passengers exiting the door to walk out through the middle of the door in a straight line. There is often a great deal of feet stepped on, stomachs gouged by elbows and many other things not normally found in lines in the west. This sort of posturing is not personal. In fact, I doubt that the passengers are even consciously aware that they're pushing someone. Stay calm, push back at the same level of strength and remember, it's only a subway.

If a passenger who is 55+ enters the subway the youngest Korean over, say, 13 years old is expected to stand up and give their seat to their elder. If a foreigner does this, surprise and respect generally ensue.

As with all things of this sort, these are general guidelines, not followed by everyone, and not legally binding.