Guides · Trip essentials

How to Book KTX Tickets as a Foreigner (2026): KORAIL Site, Pass and SRT Merger

What changed in 2026

The 10% is an average, so not every route drops by the same amount. Check the fare on your booking screen.

Where to book

Avoid unofficial sellers. KORAIL warns about unauthorized sites and names RailNinja and RailMonster.

Its 2025 example showed a Seoul–Busan seat at 43 USD on KORAIL and 76 USD on an unauthorized site.

Old SRT app and site: the SRT site says SRT routes moved to KORAIL+ and that the SRT app will end, without giving a date. Its English menu now links to KORAIL's global site.

Use KORAIL.

How to book on the KORAIL site

1. Open korail.com/global/eng/main in Chrome or Safari. KORAIL says in-app browsers from social media apps may fail. If the page won't load, try mobile data instead of Wi-Fi.
2. Choose departure, arrival, date and passengers, then search.
3. Enter your details. Write down the email and password exactly as typed, including capital letters. You need both to view your ticket.
4. Pay by credit card.
5. Check the ticket under MY TICKET.

KORAIL's own guide says online sales run until departure, but don't leave it that late on a show weekend.

Paying with a foreign card

• Reported accepted: Visa, Mastercard and UnionPay, according to September 2026 reports on the government and KORAIL announcement.
• Other cards: for JCB and American Express, check with KORAIL or use a station counter.
• In development: WeChat Pay and Alipay, with no launch date.
• Bring a second card and don't wait until the day of travel.

Getting your ticket

• No pickup needed for online tickets. Open MY TICKET on your phone and show the ticket screen. KORAIL says a screenshot or copy is not valid, so keep data or Wi-Fi available.
• KORAIL's guide also lists web, home and mobile tickets. You can get a receipt at a station ticket office.
• No valid ticket: KORAIL says boarding without one can mean a penalty worth 1× the standard fare.

Korail Pass

The pass is for foreigners only. Korean nationals can't use it.

• You choose your travel days within 10 days of the starting date.
• Buy on the site with your passport and credit card. Details must match your passport exactly.
• Reserve seats under MY TICKET, then SEAT RESERVATION, from two months before departure. The limit is two seat tickets per person per day.
• First class costs 50% of the first-class price for that route.
• It doesn't cover the metropolitan railway or temporary tourist trains.
• Refunds work only before the starting date.
• On board, carry the pass, your passport and your seat ticket.

Is it worth it? At the reported fare, a Seoul–Busan round trip is 108,800 won, less than the 131,000-won 2-day pass.

A pass usually needs more than one long round trip.

Suseo trains: if you plan to use a pass on a Suseo departure, check with KORAIL (+82-1599-7777 or chat) first.

Going to a show in Busan, Daegu or elsewhere

Use the KTX station names below in your search.

• Compare Seoul and Suseo stations. Pick whichever is closer to where you stay.
• Buy your concert ticket first, then book the train. Early cancellation costs little or nothing, but fees rise close to departure.
• Check the last train on your show day before you book the return. If the show ends late, plan a night in that city.
• Weekend refund fees differ. KORAIL applies a separate penalty schedule for Friday to Sunday and public holidays.

Cancelling

Cancel under MY TICKET before departure. After departure, you must go to a station ticket office, and there is no refund after the arrival time.

The fee depends on how close to departure you cancel. See the table in KORAIL's Ticketing Guide.

FAQ

Do I need a Korean phone number to book KTX?

KORAIL's global site lets you view tickets with your email and password. It doesn't ask for Korean identity verification in the guide we checked.

Keep both details safe.

Can I still book SRT as a foreigner?

Use KORAIL. Trains that were SRT now run as KTX since 1 September 2026, and Suseo appears in the station list on KORAIL's English site.

When do KTX tickets go on sale?

At 07:00 Korea time, two months before departure. Holiday special-service periods are announced separately.

Can I show a screenshot of my ticket?

No. KORAIL says captured images are not valid. Show the live ticket screen.