KTX Train from Seoul to Busan across South Korea

What is the KTX?

KTX stands for Korea Train eXpress and is the high speed train of the state railway company Korail. It runs at up to 300 km/h and connects Seoul with almost every larger city in the country. The most important line is the Gyeongbu line from Seoul to Busan, around 420 kilometres straight across South Korea.

How long does the KTX Seoul Busan take?

The fastest connections do Seoul to Busan in about 2 hours, most of them need 2.5 to just under 3 hours depending on the number of stops. When you book you see the travel time right next to the connection.

KTX or SRT?

A second high speed train runs on the same line, the SRT. It is a bit cheaper and similarly fast, but it does not start at Seoul Station, it starts at Suseo in the southeast of the city. From the city centre you are about an hour on the way there. One note: the SRT does not belong to Korail and is therefore not included in the Korail Pass.

Booking KTX tickets, step by step

If you travel on fixed dates, book the ride as soon as your itinerary is set. Sold out really does mean sold out at Korail, and then all that is left is another connection with a change or the bus instead. And you do not want to take that one, it takes around 5 hours!

Where to book

We booked our ticket very easily through the Korail website . All you need is an account, which is also where your ticket is stored after the purchase. Klook or Trip.com work fine too and are the usual detour if the official site blocks your card. You pay a small surcharge there though. Do not be fooled, these sites often show connections that have long been sold out and only when you click on book does it turn out that it really is not available any more. I would recommend the official Korail site. Alternatively you can buy your ticket directly at the station at the counter or from a machine. That always works, but it does not help you if the train is already sold out. For the ride to the station you do not need a separate ticket by the way, you use your prepaid card for that: Tmoney Card, the prepaid card in South Korea

What does the ride from Seoul to Busan cost?

Standard class costs around 59,800 Won (as of 2026). Korail adjusts the prices from time to time. There is no discount for a return trip. Two single tickets together therefore cost around 119,600 Won. Remember that number, it matters in a moment for the Korail Pass.

Is first class worth it?

You get wider seats, more legroom and it is quieter. I would only book it if standard class is already sold out though. Otherwise the surcharge of 24,000 Won is not really worth it for 2.5 hours.

Is the Korail Pass worth it?

The Korail Pass is a rail pass for foreign visitors only. You choose 2, 3, 4 or 5 travel days that you can spread freely within 10 days. So the days do not have to be consecutive. The pass only gets interesting once you travel more. If you combine Seoul, Gyeongju and Busan for example, or want to add Jeonju along the way, you quickly go beyond the price of the pass. Add up your actual routes once and compare. For the plain Seoul to Busan return trip it is definitely not worth it. Two single tickets cost around 119,600 Won, the smallest pass 131,000. So you pay a good 11,000 Won extra without getting more.

What else you should know

• Subways and city trains are not included, you still need the Tmoney Card for those.
• The SRT is not part of it.
• You need your passport, because the Korail Pass is tied to a person.
• You can reserve two seats per day, after that only standing room.
• First class costs a surcharge with the pass too.

The ride from Seoul to Busan

Departure Seoul Station

Most KTX trains to Busan start at Seoul Station, the main station right in the middle of the city, connected to several subway lines. Be there 20 minutes before departure. That is plenty, because there is no security check and no boarding like at the airport. You simply walk onto the platform and look for your carriage. The carriage numbers are marked on the platform floor, exactly where the door will stop later. Stand there and you will not have to drag your suitcase through half the train.

On the train

In standard class you sit four across, two plus two. There are power sockets and wifi on board. For large suitcases there is a luggage rack at the beginning and at the end of every carriage. Space there is limited, so one more reason to be on the platform early and not board last. There is no dining car. In the station you will find convenience stores and bakeries, stock up there. Eating on the train is completely normal. Only talking loudly on the phone is a no go.

Arrival Busan Station

In Busan you arrive at the main station, right on subway line 1. From there it is around 10 minutes to Nampo and about 45 to Haeundae. Keep that in mind when you book your hotel, Busan is a lot more spread out than it looks on the map. What you can do in Busan is here: Sky Capsule Ride, Busans most beautiful train ride and Gamcheon Culture Village

My conclusion

The KTX Seoul Busan is the easiest way to cover longer distances in South Korea. Seoul to Busan in a good 2.5 hours for around 38 Euro, out of the city centre and straight back into one. That beats any domestic flight. The one point where travellers regularly stumble is the booking. Do not plan it for the day of travel, do it right when your dates are fixed. And do the maths on the Korail Pass beforehand, for the classic return trip to Busan it is not worth it.