The KTX from Seoul to Busan: Korea’s Old Capitals at High Speed

The route

The Gyeongbu line is named for its two ends, Gyeongseong, the old name for Seoul, and Busan. The high-speed tracks were built in two stages: the first trains ran in 2004, and the new line was completed through to Busan in 2010. Today it is Korea’s main line, and its trains are often full.

From Seoul the line heads south through Gwangmyeong, Cheonan-Asan and Osong to Daejeon, then south-east through Gimcheon-Gumi to Dongdaegu, the station for Daegu. Beyond Daegu it bores through the mountains towards Gyeongju and Ulsan, and its two longest tunnels lie on this stretch, one of them over 20 km long, before Busan. Not every train stops everywhere: the fastest call at only a few stations, and the slower ones at most of them, for the same fare.

Since 1 September 2026 the two companies that ran Korea’s high-speed trains have been one. The trains that used to run as a separate service from Suseo, in the south of Seoul, are now booked alongside the KTX in Korail’s app. Fares on the route were cut by about a tenth for three years.

What the rail journey is like

At Seoul Station the departure boards show your platform about fifteen to thirty minutes before the train leaves. Markers on the platform show where each car will stop, and passengers queue at their own. Boarding is quick, and people who arrive early get the luggage space at the ends of the car.

The train slides out through the city, past rail yards and walls of apartment towers, and then picks up speed. Passengers notice how quietly it does so. Inside, the car is calm and clean, with seats in pairs either side of the aisle. On the newest trains each seat has its own window and a phone charger built in.

South of Seoul the country opens out into green hills, rice fields and farming villages, broken by tunnels and by towns of tall apartment blocks. Passengers describe it as pleasant rather than dramatic. In the tunnels the Wi-Fi drops and ears can pop. Most people settle in with something they bought at the station, since there is no food service on board, only vending machines.

After Daegu the tunnels grow longer, and the train runs in darkness for minutes at a time. On trains that call at Gyeongju, it slows for a station with a great wave of a roof, standing well outside the city. The stop is short, so passengers getting off here gather their bags early. Half an hour later the train comes into Busan, where the queue for taxis can be long.

What people remember is the ease of it: on time, smooth, comfortable, and over almost before they have finished their coffee. If you have seen Train to Busan, the 2016 zombie film set on this very service, you may be glad to find the real journey uneventful.

The stages

Times are rough and depend on the stops your train makes. Passengers report no better side.

Stops worth breaking the journey for

Not every train stops at both, so check that yours calls where you want. Buy a separate ticket for each leg; we could not confirm that a single Seoul to Busan ticket lets you get off and continue later.

Gyeongju

The capital of Silla for nearly a thousand years: royal tombs rising like hills between the streets, a 7th-century stone observatory, a palace pond lit at night, and Bulguksa and Seokguram on the mountain. It deserves a night at least.

Daegu

The big southern city most first trips skip, at Dongdaegu station. Seomun Market at dusk, and the herbal medicine lanes of Yangnyeongsi, trading for three and a half centuries. A day is enough to enjoy it.

Planning the journey

Which side should I sit on?

Either side: passengers report no better one, and tunnels take a large share of the southern half. Choose a window seat when you book; the seat map shows which seats have windows and sockets. What matters more is which way your seat faces. On the newer KTX-Sancheon and KTX-Cheongryong trains every seat turns to face forward. On the older KTX trains about half the seats face backwards for the whole journey, and the seat map shows which.

Which train should I take?

Whichever leaves when you want to go, from the station nearer you. Every train on the route costs the same. The fastest take about 2 hours 20 minutes and the slowest nearly three hours, because they stop more often. Start from Suseo if you are staying south of the Han River, since those trains now book alongside the rest. If you want a forward-facing seat without checking, pick a KTX-Cheongryong or KTX-Sancheon.

How do I book, and what does it cost?

Book in Korail’s Korail+ app, which replaced the old Korail Talk app in August 2026 and takes a passport, or on Korail’s English website if the app will not accept your card. Since 1 October 2026 seats go on sale two months ahead. A standard seat from Seoul to Busan costs ₩54,400, about a tenth less than before the merger. Weekend and holiday trains sell out, so book early.

The Korea Rail Pass covers the KTX with seat reservations, but we could not confirm its rules for the former Suseo trains since the merger. For a single return trip, two ordinary tickets cost less than a pass. Our guide to getting around Korea covers booking, stations and T-money cards in full.

Can I stop at Gyeongju on the way?

Yes, and it is the best way to do this journey: buy two tickets and give Gyeongju a night. The station, called Singyeongju in older guides, stands about 8 km west of the city centre, so leave time to get into town.

Can I travel with a mobility need, or with luggage?

Partly, as far as we can find. Korail takes requests for help through its app. We could not find which car carries the wheelchair spaces, so ask when you book. Luggage goes on the racks at the ends of each car, and some trains have lockers. The space fills quickly, so board early with a large case.

If the journey breaks down

Delays are uncommon, but they happen: on 26 May 2026 a power-line fault stopped or diverted more than 120 KTX trains. Rail strikes are threatened from time to time; one planned for December 2025 was called off. Since the merger a delay of 90 minutes earns back 75% of the fare, and two hours the whole fare. Check the Korail+ app on the morning you travel, and leave a buffer before a flight.