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KTX and Trains in Korea: Booking, Stations and Fares (2026)

Checked against official sources on October 20, 2026

Red-nosed train passing the station signs at Busan Station

Photo: Smiley.toerist, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Fast train South Korea in red livery Busan.jpg

Summary

Book KTX trains on Korail's English website or in the KORAIL+ app. Since 1 September 2026, the former SRT trains from Suseo are also sold there as KTX. As of October 2026, a standard seat from Seoul Station to Busan on the main high-speed route costs ₩54,400. The trip takes 2 hours 18 minutes to about 3½ hours.

At a glance

Book on
Korail website or KORAIL+ app
Seoul–Busan
₩54,400 (standard seat)
Travel time
2 hours 18 minutes to about 3½ hours
Suseo–Busan
₩52,900
Pay with
Overseas Visa, Mastercard, JCB
Booking opens
About one month before departure

Step by step

How to book and board the KTX

Step 1 of 8 · Pick your station

1Pick the right Seoul station

Suseo and Seoul Station serve different routes

수서suseoSuseo: former SRT trains, now KTX

Read all steps as text

  1. 1. Pick the right Seoul station

    Suseo and Seoul Station serve different routes

    Korean you will see: 수서 = Suseo: former SRT trains, now KTX

  2. 2. Search and choose a class

    Use Korail's English site or the KORAIL+ app

    Korean you will see: 일반실 = Economy class

  3. 3. Check fare and travel time

    Seoul to Busan: ₩54,400 economy (October 2026)

    Korean you will see: ₩54,400 = Economy fare, Seoul to Busan

  4. 4. Pay with an overseas card

    Choose the overseas card option and pay

  5. 5. Save the ticket, note car and seat

    Keep the ticket in the app with car and seat

    Korean you will see: 2호차 = Car number

  6. 6. Find your train on the board

    Find your train number on the departure board

    Korean you will see: 타는 곳 = Platform number

  7. 7. Follow the platform signs

    The platform number is on the sign overhead

    Korean you will see: 타는 곳 8 = Platform 8

  8. 8. Walk to your car

    Cars are numbered: walk to yours before it arrives

    Korean you will see: 2호차 = Car 2

Korean for this

  • 표 사는 것 좀 도와주세요

    pyo saneun geot jom dowajuseyo

    Could you help me buy a ticket?

  • 부산 가는 KTX 표 한 장 주세요

    busan ganeun KTX pyo han jang juseyo

    One KTX ticket to Busan, please

All Korean phrases

Details

Korea's high-speed KTX trains link Seoul with Busan, Daegu, Gwangju, Gangneung and other cities in two to three hours. Booking in English is straightforward. The main mistakes are choosing the wrong Seoul station and leaving holiday trips too late. In 2026 the system also changed: the separate SRT brand was merged into KTX.

What changed in 2026

  • One app. From 3 August 2026, the SRT app and Korail Talk have run as one app called 코레일+koreil peulleoseuKORAIL+.
  • One brand. For trains running from 1 September 2026, the former SRT routes are booked through KORAIL+ as KTX trains.
  • Lower fares. Korail's fare table effective 1 September 2026 lists Seoul–Busan at ₩54,400, down from ₩59,800 in older guides.
  • Older guides are out of date. Many sites still mention SRT or Korail Talk, including VisitKorea's app list from May 2026.

Before you start

  • Know your Seoul station. See the table below. Suseo is in southeast Seoul, on the opposite side of the city from Seoul Station.
  • Have a card ready. Korail's English site has a payment option for credit cards issued overseas (Visa, Mastercard and JCB).
  • Carry your passport, especially if you use a Korail Pass.
  • Book early for holidays. Seats around Seollal (Lunar New Year) and Chuseok go fast. Korail sells tickets from about one month before departure.

Which station in Seoul?

This is based on Korail's KTX timetable from 1 November 2026.

Station Main KTX destinations
서울SeoulSeoul Station Busan, Daegu and Ulsan; Masan and Jinju; Pohang; some trains to Gwangju and Yeosu; Gangneung
용산YongsanYongsan Station Most trains to Gwangju and Mokpo (Honam line) and to Jeonju and Yeosu (Jeolla line)
수서SuseoSuseo Station Former SRT trains, now KTX: Busan, Gwangju and Mokpo, plus a few to Jinju, Pohang and Yeosu
청량리CheongnyangniCheongnyangni Station KTX-Eum trains to Gangneung and along the Jungang line

Many Busan and Gwangju trains also stop at Gwangmyeong, southwest of Seoul. That's handy if you're staying near there.

KTX train at a Seoul Station platform beside the station name sign

Step by step

Step 1 — Choose your train

KTX, KTX-Sancheon and KTX-Cheongryong are the high-speed trains on the main lines. KTX-Eum serves Gangneung and the Jungang line. ITX and Mugunghwa trains are slower and cheaper intercity services.

Step 2 — Open the English site or the app

Go to Korail's English site or install KORAIL+. Korail's global site also has Japanese, Chinese (Simplified and Traditional) and Indonesian versions. The KORAIL+ app is available in English, Japanese, Korean, Simplified and Traditional Chinese, Thai and Vietnamese.

Step 3 — Search and pick a seat class

Enter your departure station (출발chulbalDeparture), arrival station (도착dochakArrival), date and number of passengers. Then choose a class:

  • 일반실ilbansilEconomy class is standard seating.
  • 특실teuksilFirst class has wider seats.
  • 우등실udeungsilPremium class is the upper class on KTX-Eum and KTX-Cheongryong trains.

Step 4 — Pay

Select the overseas card option and pay. Save the ticket in the app or as a confirmation, and note the car number (호차hochaCar) and the seat number.

Step 5 — Find your platform

At the station, find your train number on the departure board. Follow the 타는 곳taneun gotPlatform signs to the platform number shown. Cars are numbered, so walk along the platform to your car before the train arrives.

Walkway with gates leading down to a numbered train platform at a Seoul railway station

Step 6 — Change or cancel in time

Cancel early if your plans change. Korail's refund rules:

  • Free or a small fee (from ₩400) until two days before departure. The fee depends on the day of the week and on holidays.
  • A percentage of the fare as departure gets closer.
  • After departure, refunds are only at a station counter. Fees rise to 70% before the train arrives.
  • No refund after the arrival time.
  • Refunds within 10 minutes of buying are free, up to twice a day, for trains leaving at least 30 minutes later.

Fares and travel times as of October 2026

Fares are from Korail's table effective 1 September 2026. Times are from the timetable effective 1 November 2026.

Route Economy First or premium Time
Seoul → Busan (high-speed line) ₩54,400 ₩78,900 first, ₩65,300 premium 2 h 18 min – 3 h 27 min
Suseo → Busan ₩52,900 ₩76,700 first 2 h 11 min – 3 h 9 min
Seoul → Dongdaegu (Daegu) ₩39,000 ₩56,600 first from 1 h 38 min
Yongsan → Gwangju-Songjeong ₩37,500 – ₩42,000 from ₩54,400 first 1 h 36 min – 2 h 54 min
Seoul → Gangneung (KTX-Eum) ₩27,600 ₩33,100 premium 1 h 51 min – 2 h 11 min

Some slower Busan trains run via Gupo or Suwon and cost less: ₩48,000–₩49,300 from Seoul Station. Fares can differ with discounts and seat types, so check the price on the booking screen.

Korail Pass

As of 20 October 2026, Korail's English site still sells the KORAIL PASS FX in 2-, 3-, 4- and 5-day versions, for adults and children. Check the current price and eligibility on the official site before you buy.

  • After you buy, reserve seats from the pass in your account ("Seat Reservation").
  • Board with your pass, your passport and any seat reservation ticket. Korail says a screenshot of a ticket isn't valid.
  • Only the person named on the pass can use it. Misuse is charged the standard fare plus 10 to 30 times that fare.
  • Compare the pass price with the individual fares above. One Seoul–Busan round trip alone costs ₩108,800 in economy.

Common problems

You went to the wrong station. Check the departure station on your ticket the night before. Seoul Station and Suseo aren't interchangeable.

Your card was declined. Make sure you picked the overseas card option. Try another card, or switch between the website and the app.

The train is sold out. Try other departure times, nearby stations like Gwangmyeong, or another day. Book holiday trips as soon as tickets open.

You can't find your car. Look at the car numbers marked along the platform, and walk to yours before the train arrives.

You have SRT points or coupons. SR posted guidance on 23 September 2026 about using existing SR coupons after the merger.

Questions and answers

Is the SRT still running?

The trains still run from Suseo, but since 1 September 2026 they're sold as KTX through KORAIL+. The separate SRT app is being shut down.

How much is the KTX from Seoul to Busan?

₩54,400 in economy on the main high-speed route from Seoul Station, according to Korail's fare table from 1 September 2026. From Suseo it's ₩52,900.

Can foreigners book KTX online?

Yes. Use Korail's English site or the KORAIL+ app. The English site accepts overseas-issued Visa, Mastercard and JCB cards.

Is the Korail Pass still sold?

Yes. As of October 2026, the KORAIL PASS FX is sold in 2-, 3-, 4- and 5-day versions. It's worth it only if you take several long trips in a short time.

Can I take a train to Jeju?

No. Jeju is an island with no rail link to the mainland. Fly or take a ferry.

How early should I arrive at the station?

Leave enough time to find the platform and walk to your car. Seoul, Yongsan and Suseo are large, busy stations, so don't plan to arrive just before departure.

Official sources (8)

Last checked October 20, 2026Next check due January 18, 2027

Rules can change. Confirm on the official site before you travel.

Next stepBusan Travel Guide for First-Time Visitors (2026)

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