Booking KTX, SRT and Express Buses as a Foreign Visitor
How to buy fast-train and intercity bus tickets in Korea with a foreign card, what the Korail app and rail passes do, and how to reach Gyeongju, Jeonju and Gangneung.
The three main ways to travel between cities
Korea has three main options for getting between cities: fast trains, slower conventional trains and intercity or express buses. The fast trains are KTX, run by Korail, and SRT, run by a separate operator. Both are comfortable, reliable and quick, and for most routes between big cities they beat the bus on time. Buses are cheaper on some routes, run more often, and reach places the trains do not.
Domestic flights are the fastest choice to Jeju, where there is no rail link. For the other regions on Korea Trip Map, the trains and buses are all you need. Travel times below are rough guides, so check the live timetable when you book.
KTX and SRT, and which stations they use
KTX trains leave from Seoul Station and Yongsan Station, among others, and run on lines toward Busan, Jeonju and the southeast. The SRT is a similar fast train that departs from Suseo Station in southeast Seoul and serves a more limited set of destinations. If your hotel is in southern Seoul, SRT may be convenient. If you are staying near the old center, KTX from Seoul Station is usually easier. Always check which station you leave from, because arriving at the wrong one is a classic mistake.
Approximate trips: Seoul to Busan takes around two and a half hours on the fast train. Seoul to Jeonju takes roughly one and a half to two hours. Seoul to Gangneung, on a fast train that opened with the east coast line, takes about two hours. Seoul to Gyeongju takes roughly two hours to Singyeongju Station on the KTX, followed by a bus or taxi ride of around half an hour into the old town. Some trains stop at a different station than you expect, so read the arrival station on your ticket.
Busan to Gyeongju is a short hop, roughly an hour or a bit more depending on whether you take a train or an intercity bus. You can also reach the station from local transit.
Booking with a foreign card
Korail has an English website and mobile app, which many visitors know as Korail Talk. You can search by station name, choose seats and pay online. Foreign Visa and Mastercard cards are generally accepted, but your bank must allow overseas payments, and sometimes you need to update your billing address or approve the charge. If a card fails, try another, or try the same booking again after a short pause. Booking interfaces change, so follow the on-screen steps in English and check Korail's English pages for current instructions.
SRT has its own booking site and app, and its English support has been more limited, so it is worth checking in advance whether your card and phone work. If the SRT app proves tricky, the KTX is a perfectly good alternative on many routes. Another route is to buy at the station: ticket counters and machines at major stations can operate in English, and the staff are used to visitors, though lines are long at busy times.
After you pay online, you receive a ticket in the app or by email. Many trains do not need you to collect a paper ticket, and you board with the QR code on your phone. If your ticket requires pick-up, the confirmation will say so and give the deadline. Keep your reference number and your passport with you.
Rail passes and when they pay off
Korail sells a pass for foreign visitors (often called the Korail Pass or KR Pass) that allows a set number of days of travel on many Korail trains. Whether it saves money depends on how many long trips you take. For a five-day trip that covers Seoul, Gyeongju and Busan, the arithmetic is worth doing: add up the point-to-point fares for your planned trains and compare them with the pass price, remembering that seat reservations may still be required and may be limited for pass holders on some trains.
For a simple trip with only a couple of long train rides, individual tickets are normally the better value. Passes, conditions and rules change from year to year, so read the current details on the official Korail English site before you buy, and buy only from sellers you trust.
Express and intercity buses, and when to book
Intercity and express buses are a great alternative. The terminals are large, with English signs, and you can often buy a ticket at the counter or on a machine on the day. Premium or deluxe buses have wider seats and are very comfortable for long trips. Buses also reach places the trains miss, and at times they are the faster or simpler option. Bus apps and sites may be in Korean only, so the station counter and your phone's translation app are often the practical way.
Book trains as far in advance as the system allows when you will travel on weekends, in cherry blossom or autumn leaf seasons, or around Lunar New Year and Chuseok. On those days the popular fast trains can be fully booked a long time ahead. On ordinary weekdays you can often buy on the day.
Arrive at the station at least 20 to 30 minutes before departure, since big stations are large and your platform may take time to find. Trains leave on time, and a missed train can mean you must buy a new ticket. Fares and schedules change, so confirm them on official pages before you travel.