KTX tickets and KORAIL PASS for foreign travelers
KTX tickets go on sale at 07:00 two months before departure on Korail's site and app, and foreign cards work at new station machines. The KORAIL PASS for foreigners starts at 131,000 KRW for 2 days, and PASS+ adds subway and bus use for 8,000 KRW. Child fares and what to know before you board.
Korea’s KTX high-speed trains are easy to book from abroad. Tickets go on sale at 07:00 two months before the departure date, on the Korail website and the KORAIL+ app as well as at stations (Korail, checked 2026-10-22). If you plan several long rides in a few days, Korail also sells the KORAIL PASS, an unlimited-ride pass for foreign travelers that starts at 131,000 KRW for 2 days. On regular tickets, children aged 6 to 13 pay half.
Where can I buy a KTX ticket?
Korail sells tickets on its website, which runs in seven languages, and in the KORAIL+ app. At stations you can use ticket offices or vending machines, and other ticketing vendors sell them too. Korail has been installing new vending machines at 148 stations, including Seoul, Daejeon and Dongdaegu, that let you pick Korean, Chinese or Japanese, pay with a foreign credit card, or use simple-payment services (Korail, checked 2026-10-22).
Sales open at 07:00 two months ahead. For weekend trips out of Seoul or Busan, booking soon after that window opens gives you the widest choice of times.
What does the KORAIL PASS cover?
It is Korail’s rail pass for foreign travelers. For the period you buy, you can ride all Korail trains, KTX included. Korail’s listed adult prices are:
- 2 days: 131,000 KRW
- 3 days: 186,000 KRW
- 4 days: 234,000 KRW
- 5 days: 275,000 KRW
You buy it on Korail’s website or at a station. Whether it pays off depends on your route: add up the single fares for the trips you actually plan, then compare. The pass makes the most sense when you are covering long distances on back-to-back days.
What is KORAIL PASS+?
KORAIL PASS+ is the same pass with a prepaid transit card added. Buy a KORAIL PASS first, then enter its pass number on the KORAIL PASS+ website and pay 8,000 KRW more. Once you top it up, the card works on subways and buses across Korea and for payment at some shops, such as Storyway convenience stores (Korail, checked 2026-10-22). You pick the card up at dedicated kiosks at Incheon International Airport and major KTX stations such as Seoul and Busan.
Are there discounts for children?
Children aged 6 to 13 pay 50% of the fare. Children under 6 get 75% off, up to two per guardian, and a child under 6 who does not need a seat rides without a separate ticket. When you book, choose “child” or “toddler” and the discount is applied at payment.
What if I miss the chance to buy a ticket?
Don’t board without one. Korail charges a penalty worth one times the standard fare if you ride without a ticket. If you are short on time, use a station vending machine; the new ones accept foreign cards.
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Check the official site before you go
Fares, pass prices and sales rules can change. Check Korail’s English site (korail.com/global/eng) for current prices and pass terms before you book. Korail’s call center for international travelers is +82-1599-7777 (08:00 to 20:00).
FAQ
- When do KTX tickets go on sale?
- From 07:00, two months before the departure date. You can book on the Korail website or the KORAIL+ app, at station ticket offices and vending machines, or through other ticketing vendors (Korail, checked 2026-10-22).
- How much is the KORAIL PASS?
- Korail lists adult prices of 131,000 KRW for 2 days, 186,000 KRW for 3 days, 234,000 KRW for 4 days and 275,000 KRW for 5 days. It is sold to foreign travelers only. Check the current price on Korail's site before you buy.
- What is KORAIL PASS+?
- The KORAIL PASS with a prepaid transit card added. After buying a pass, you pay 8,000 KRW more and enter your pass number on the KORAIL PASS+ website; once topped up, the card works on subways and buses across Korea and at some shops.
- Are there child fares?
- Yes. Children aged 6 to 13 get 50% off, and children under 6 get 75% off (up to two per guardian). A child under 6 who does not need a seat rides without a separate ticket.
- What if I board without a ticket?
- Korail charges a penalty worth one times the standard fare if you ride without a ticket, so buy one first, even at a station machine.
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Drafted with AI assistance and reviewed and edited by the Every Ticket team. Some links are affiliate links; we may earn a commission when you book.
