In Korea, trains are the fastest means of transportation, excluding airplanes. So if there is a train station near your departure or destination, you will often use the train. Among them, KTX is the most used train. In this article, I will tell you about the types of Korean trains, including KTX, and how to reserve them.
Korean trains can be divided into high-speed trains and local trains. High-speed trains include KTX and SRT, and local trains include 무궁화(Mugunghwa) and ITX. High-speed trains are fast enough to travel from Seoul to Busan in just 2 and a half hours. However, the routes and regions where high-speed trains operate are limited. On the other hand, local trains are slow, but they are cheaper than high-speed trains and can travel to more diverse areas. It is not difficult to transfer from high-speed trains to local trains, so people often use high-speed trains for the sections where they can travel and use local trains for the remaining sections.
| Train type | Time (Seoul-Busan) | Fare (Seoul-Busan) | |
| High-speed train | KTX, SRT | 2 and a half hours | 60,000 won |
| Regular train | No. 무궁화(Mugunghwa), ITX | 5 hours | 40,000 won |
The high-speed train connects major cities such as Seoul, Busan, Daegu, Gwangju, and Jeonju at a maximum speed of about 300 km/h. KTX is the best choice for saving time, especially for business travelers and tourists. KTX also provides various amenities such as Wi-Fi, power outlets, and comfortable seats to support a comfortable journey.
SRT and KTX offer similar speeds and services, but have slightly different stops. SRT is centered around Suseo Station, making it convenient to use mainly in the southern part of the metropolitan area. We recommend choosing the train that is more suitable for the area you are visiting.
Regular trains are trains that existed before the development of high-speed trains, and they mainly operate medium-distance routes connected to high-speed train lines. Although they are slower than high-speed trains, they connect various regions, so they can be used when visiting various regions. There are two types of regular trains: ITX and 무궁화(Mugunghwa). ITX is especially used by many people as it provides convenient transportation services through various routes in the metropolitan area. On the other hand, 무궁화(Mugunghwa) is currently discontinued and only operates as a remaining train, and it is expected to be discontinued as it gets older.
You can purchase train tickets in Korea through the KORAIL app. First, install KORAIL TALK from the link below.
If you have installed KORAIL TALK, you must first change the language. Even if you can speak Korean, you must change the language so that foreigners can make reservations. KORAIL TALK only offers English, Japanese, and Chinese. You can choose the language that is convenient for you.
Purchasing a ticket is easy if you have a payment card. You can easily purchase a ticket by following the link below. Korean trains usually do not check tickets. However, sometimes the conductor may show you a ticket. In that case, you can check the ticket on the KORAIL TALK app.
It is not difficult to get a refund for a purchased ticket. If you know one of the E-mail, password, or payment card number used for reservation, you can cancel and get a refund. For detailed instructions, please refer to the link below.
KORAIL PASS is a special train pass of KORAIL aimed at foreign tourists. It is a product that provides various optional passes so that foreigners traveling to Korea can travel to major cities in Korea cheaply and conveniently for a certain period of time. With KORAIL PASS, you can freely use trains such as KTX, ITX, and 무궁화(Mugunghwa) for a certain period of time. However, in the case of SRT, it cannot be used as KORAIL PASS because it is a train operated by a different company than KORAIL.
What you need to know before using KORAIL PASS KORAIL PASS is only available for website reservations. Reservations using KORAIL PASS are not possible on the KORAIL app.
Option: You can freely use the train on any date you want within 10 days from the start date. Useful if you are staying in one place for a long time.
Consecutive Ticket: You can freely use the train for the number of consecutive days from the start date. Useful for visiting several places in a short period of time.
I recommend comparing the price of KORAIL PASS with the actual ticket price before making a reservation. If it is a round trip from Seoul to Busan, you can get a regular ticket for about 120,000 won. The cheapest 2-day option among KORAIL PASS is 130,000 won, so KORAIL PASS is actually more expensive. Please consider your travel plan and choose a more economical method.
| type | adult | Youth | children | Saber |
| 2 day option | 131,000 | 105,000 | 66,000 | 121,000 |
| 4 day option | 234,000 | 187,000 | 117,000 | 224,000 |
| 3 day consecutive ticket | 165,000 | 132,000 | 83,000 | 155,000 |
| 5 day consecutive ticket | 244,000 | 195,000 | 122,000 | 234,000 |
Adults: 28 years old and older
Youth: 13-27 years old
Children: 6-12 years old
Saber: per person for 2 to 5 people
Infants: 0-5 years old. Free ride when accompanied by a guardian (1 infant per adult)
KORAIL PASS is available on the KORAIL homepage. Please access the link below.
Please refer to the article below for detailed purchasing methods. Please prepare your passport number and payment card when purchasing. Also, you need to fill in when you will use KORAIL PASS during the purchase process, so please purchase KORAIL PASS after setting a schedule. You can change your schedule once after purchase and even get a refund, so don't worry.
If you purchased KORAIL PASS, you can reserve a train on the date of use of KORAIL PASS. Just like purchasing KORAIL PASS, you can reserve a train on the KORAIL homepage. After completing the reservation, print out the ticket and bring it with you when boarding the train. The ticket will not be checked separately, but the crew can check it on the train. For detailed instructions, please refer to the link below.
If you want to change your travel schedule or make a mistake in your reservation, you can cancel your ticket. You can then book your train again. For more information, please refer to the link below.
If you would like to get a refund for KORAIL PASS, you can do so by following the link below. There is currently no refund fee, so if you get a refund before the start date of KORAIL PASS, you can get a full refund.
SRT is the same high-speed train as KTX, but since it is operated independently by a subsidiary of KORAIL, the reservation method is different. In the case of foreigners, reservations cannot be made through the app, and reservations can only be made through the website, so I do not recommend it. It is a train that was created when Suseo Station and Dongtan Station were built, and it is mainly used by Korean office workers for business. However, if you need to use SRT, you can make a reservation through the link below. The reservation method is similar to KTX, so it is not difficult.