How to Book the KTX in Korea as a Foreigner (2026): Two-Month Booking Window, Korail Pass Prices and Seat Tips
The KTX is Korea's high-speed train, and it is the easiest way to add Busan, Gyeongju, Jeonju or Gangneung to a Seoul trip. Trains are fast, punctual and comfortable, there is no airport-style security, and you can book in English. The only things that go wrong are booking too late for a weekend and getting confused between the two high-speed rail companies.
There is also news: from October 1, 2026, Korean rail tickets go on sale two months before departure instead of one, which makes it much easier to book trains when you book your flights. This guide covers that change, how to book, the Korail Pass and when it is worth it, and what to expect on board.
• Booking opens 2 months before departure (since October 1, 2026; it used to be 1 month)
• Book KTX on Korail's foreign-language site or the Korail app; SRT trains are a separate company
• Seoul–Busan: about 2.5 to 3 hours, about ₩59,800 standard class
• Korail Pass (foreigners only): ₩131,000 for 2 days up to ₩275,000 for 5 days
KTX or SRT? The two high-speed operators
Korea has two companies running high-speed trains on the same tracks:
- KTX, run by Korail, leaves Seoul from Seoul Station (and Yongsan for lines to the south-west) and serves the whole country, including Busan, Gyeongju, Daegu, Jeonju, Yeosu and Gangneung.
- SRT leaves from Suseo Station in south-east Seoul (convenient for Gangnam) and runs to Busan and Mokpo. It is a little cheaper and has its own website and app.
Most visitors staying in central Seoul, Myeongdong or Hongdae should use the KTX from Seoul Station. The Korail Pass covers KTX trains but not SRT.
The new two-month booking window
Korea's Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and Korail announced on September 20, 2026 that rail tickets would go on sale two months before departure from October 1. One reason given was foreign visitors: people buy flights months ahead but could only book trains one month before, which made planning a Seoul–Busan trip awkward. Foreign rail passengers in the first eight months of 2026 were up 68% on the year before.
In practice this means:
- Once your dates are fixed and you are within two months of travel, book your weekend and holiday trains straight away. Friday evening and Sunday afternoon trains between Seoul and Busan sell out first.
- Major holidays (Lunar New Year and Chuseok) have special booking periods and sell out within hours; avoid travelling on them if you can.
- Korail also announced that its foreign-language booking site would expand from 7 to 10 languages (adding French, German and Mongolian), and that it plans to add WeChat Pay and Alipay.
How to book a KTX ticket
- Go to Korail's foreign-language booking site (letskorail.com) or download the official Korail app (Korail Talk). Only use official Korail sites or well-known agents; there are look-alike sites.
- Search by station. Seoul to Busan is “Seoul” to “Busan”; for Gyeongju choose “Singyeongju”; for Gangneung choose “Gangneung”. Train types show as KTX, KTX-Sancheon, KTX-Eum or KTX-Cheongryong; all are high-speed.
- Pick a seat class: standard (일반실) or first class (특실). Standard is perfectly comfortable for a 2–3 hour ride.
- Pay with a foreign credit card. Enter your name exactly as on your passport.
- Save the ticket: you get an e-ticket in the app or a printable ticket. There are no ticket gates; a conductor may check your ticket on board.
If everything is sold out, check again later (people cancel often in the last days), or look for standing or unreserved seats (입석/자유석), which are sold at a small discount when the train is full.
Cancelling is possible online; the fee is small if you cancel well ahead and goes up as departure approaches. If you miss your train, cancel or change it as soon as possible.
Journey times from Seoul
| Destination | From | Approx. time |
|---|---|---|
| Busan | Seoul Station | 2 h 30 min – 3 h |
| Gyeongju (Singyeongju) | Seoul Station | about 2 h – 2 h 30 min |
| Daegu (Dongdaegu) | Seoul Station | about 1 h 45 min |
| Jeonju | Yongsan | about 1 h 40 min – 2 h |
| Gangneung | Seoul Station / Cheongnyangni | about 1 h 40 min – 2 h |
Times vary by how many stops a train makes; the booking screen shows each train's duration. Our T-money guide explains how to get to Seoul Station on the subway.
The Korail Pass: when is it worth it?
The Korail Pass (KR Pass) is an unlimited-ride pass for foreign visitors on Korail trains, including KTX. The adult prices Korail announced in December 2025:
| Pass | Adult price |
|---|---|
| 2 days | ₩131,000 |
| 3 days | ₩186,000 |
| 4 days | ₩234,000 |
| 5 days | ₩275,000 |
The pass days are used within a 10-day period; the exact rule (any days or consecutive days) depends on the pass type, so read it on Korail's pass page before buying. You still reserve a seat for each train, usually at no extra cost, and you must carry the passport you entered when buying.
The simple test: a Seoul–Busan round trip costs about ₩119,600 at normal fares, which is less than the 2-day pass. So the pass only pays off if you add more long trips, for example Seoul → Gyeongju → Busan → Seoul, or a day trip to Jeonju on top. For a simple Seoul–Busan–Seoul trip, buy normal tickets.
On board
- Arrive 15–20 minutes early. The departure board shows the platform about 10 minutes before departure. Find your car number on the platform floor markings.
- Luggage goes on the overhead rack or the luggage space at the end of each car. With two large suitcases, choose seats near the end of the car.
- Seat direction: on some KTX trains half the seats face backwards. If that bothers you, pick seats by the map when booking.
- Food: there is no dining car. Buy gimbap, sandwiches or a lunch box (dosirak) at the station before boarding; eating your own food on board is fine.
- Wi-Fi and power: most trains have free Wi-Fi and sockets, but a mobile data connection is more reliable.
- Quiet: take phone calls in the space between cars.
Summary
Book KTX tickets on Korail's official foreign-language site or app as soon as you are within two months of travel, especially for weekends. Use Seoul Station for the KTX and Suseo for the SRT, check whether a Korail Pass really saves money (it rarely does for a single round trip), and buy food before you board. For what to do when you arrive, our Busan guide has a two-day plan.
Two-month booking window from October 1, 2026, language expansion and payment plans: Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and Korail announcement reported September 20, 2026. Korail Pass adult prices as announced by Korail in December 2025. Seoul–Busan standard fare about ₩59,800 from Korail timetables. Check current prices and pass rules on Korail's official sites before buying.
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