Trains in Korea: KTX, SRT and how to book

Seoul to Busan in 2.5 hours — how the two high-speed operators differ and the booking options for foreign cards.

3 min read

Korea's high-speed trains make day trips and multi-city itineraries easy. Seoul to Busan is about 2 hours 30 minutes on KTX.

KTX vs SRT

• KTX (Korail) leaves from Seoul Station and Yongsan; it reaches Busan, Daegu, Gyeongju, Gangneung, Jeonju, Mokpo, Yeosu and more.
• SRT leaves from Suseo in southeast Seoul (handy for Gangnam) and reaches Busan, Daegu and Mokpo. Slightly cheaper, slightly fewer trains.
• Both run frequently; standard class is comfortable, with luggage space at the car ends.

Booking

• Official apps (Korail Talk, SRT) accept foreign cards for many but not all bookings, and may need a Korean phone number. If it fails, use a booking platform or buy at the station — ticket windows and machines accept foreign cards.
• Seats sell out mainly on Friday evenings, Sunday evenings and public holidays (Chuseok and Lunar New Year sell out weeks ahead).
• Korea Rail Pass (KR Pass) is for foreigners only and makes sense if you take 3+ long trips in a few days.

Regional trains and buses

ITX and Mugunghwa trains are slower and cheaper for places like Chuncheon or Jeonju. Express buses from Seoul Express Bus Terminal are frequent, comfortable, and often the only direct option for smaller towns.