How to travel around South Korea by train

“Sshhh please!” says the train conductor, motioning downwards with her palms. “So sorry, but for the comfort of fellow passengers, ensure to keep voices low.”

She smiles and bows by way of apology before moving onwards up the carriage. Outside, scenery flicks past the train window like a slideshow: apartment blocks stacked up like dominoes, low wooded hills, teak-brown pastures, acid-green paddy fields. Along the horizon, twin lines meet like a Rothko painting: one a solid blue block of sky, the other a band of ultramarine marking the edge of the East Sea — otherwise known as the Sea of Japan.

Like everywhere, South Korea has its own train etiquette. And on the KTX (Korean Train eXpress), rule number one is that conversation should always be whispered — or preferably eliminated altogether. It seems a minor concession for the chance to ride one of the world’s fastest trains. Rocketing up to 200 miles per hour, the KTX is Asia’s third-fastest railway, outstripped only by Japan’s groundbreaking shinkansen and China’s record-busting gaotie.

Dart-nosed, lightning-quick, silver as a bullet, KTX trains have been arrowing across the Korean peninsula for two decades, but 2026 marks the start of a new era for the railway. After years of planning and construction, a new stretch of high-speed track has opened along the east coast, connecting the coastal cities of Gangneung and Donghae in the north east to the ancient capital of Gyeongju and the port city of Busan in the south east.

This new link means that, for the first time, it’s possible to circumnavigate the peninsula entirely by high-speed train.

How to know which train to book

Alongside South Korea’s flagship KTX trains, there are also standard ITX trains, which are slower and stop at more stations. Pay attention to service labelling when checking timetables.

KTX trains have First and Standard class (sometimes called Economy). The main difference in First is seat space and extra legroom, but even in Standard class, the seats are very comfortable, and come with USB charging points and free onboard wi-fi. There are toilets between most carriages.

How to book your tickets

Some KTX trains get very busy, so reserving a seat is always recommended, ideally at least a few days before travel. Some last-minute standing tickets are available, too. You can buy tickets at the station or online in advance. There’s English signage at all mainline stations and train staff usually have basic English.

What to know about train etiquette

Talking loudly on trains will earn you a stern ticking-off from the conductor. Similarly, eating on public transport is frowned upon in South Korea, especially when the food is smelly, however, snacks and drinks on trains are ok. Common sense applies: don’t block aisles with your luggage; and don’t sit in a priority seat, which are reserved for seniors and people with disabilities.

How to plan your journey

Google Maps, Apple Maps and other navigation apps are of limited use in South Korea. You’ll need to download local apps such as Naver, which has an English language version, to check train and public transport times and routes.

Within cities, Seoul and Busan both have efficient metro systems that operate on a tap in, tap out basis. The most useful way to pay metro and bus fares is with a pre-paid T-Money card, which you load at machines in the station before travel. At present you usually have to top up with cash, as only a few machines at key stations accept overseas cards.

What are the travel times

High-speed rail has massively shortened journey times across most of South Korea, making it possible to travel across the country in a day: for example, the direct service from Seoul to Busan takes two hours and 45 minutes. Other sample journey times include: Seoul to Gangneung (one hour and 49 minutes), Gangneung to Gyeongju (two hours and 50 minutes) and Gyeongju to Busan (35 minutes).