Train routes in South Korea
18 routes · high-speed 7 · classic 5 · scenic 5 · luxury 1
18 routes cross South Korea in the World Train Map atlas. The longest is the Rail Cruise Haerang at 1,500 km; the fastest is the KTX, running up to 305 km/h; the oldest line dates to 1984. Every route links to its facts, photo and story, and to the interactive world map.
Open the world railway map →High-speed (7)
- KTX
Korea’s TGV-derived flagship halved the Seoul–Busan run: today the corridor is one of the most intensively served on Earth.
Wikipedia ↗ - KTX Honam
Korea’s second high-speed spine: across the Honam rice plain to Gwangju and Mokpo’s seafood quays, where ferries fan out to a thousand islands.
Wikipedia ↗ - SRT
The upstart from Gangnam. SRT slips out of Suseo through the 50 km Yulhyeon Tunnel and undercuts KTX fares all the way to Busan.
Wikipedia ↗ - KTX Gangneung Line
Built for the PyeongChang 2018 Games: under the Taebaek passes in a 22 km tunnel, out to Gangneung’s espresso beaches on the East Sea.
Wikipedia (KO) ↗ - KTX-Eum Jungang Line
The rebuilt Jungang line, run through since December 2024: EMU-260 sets from Seoul past Confucian Andong and Gyeongju’s royal tombs, down the Donghae line to Bujeon in Busan in 3 h 56.
Wikipedia ↗ - KTX-Eum Jungbu Inland
Korea’s newest inter-city railway, finished through to Mungyeong in November 2024: EMU-260 sets past Chungju and the Suanbo hot springs to the old post road town under Mungyeong Saejae.
Wikipedia (KO) ↗ - KTX Jeolla Line
Off the Honam high-speed line at Iksan and down the Jeolla branch: hanok-roofed Jeonju, Suncheon’s gardens and the Expo harbour at Yeosu.
Wikipedia ↗
Classic (5)
- ITX-Saemaeul
Tilting-comfort intercity that succeeded the storied Saemaul-ho, still running the full 442 km Gyeongbu spine from Seoul to Busan.
Wikipedia ↗ - ITX-Cheongchun
Double-deck 180 km/h EMU on the Youth Line, racing up the Bukhan River to the lake city of Chuncheon, home of dak-galbi.
Wikipedia ↗ - Mugunghwa-ho
Korea’s beloved everyman Rose of Sharon train: cheap reserved seats and rattling coaches taking the slow road from Seoul to Busan.
Wikipedia ↗ - ITX-Maum · Donghae Line
Korea’s newest line: the last east-coast gap closed on New Year’s Day 2025, and now one train runs the whole East Sea shore, Busan to Gangneung.
Wikipedia ↗ - AREX Express
Non-stop since December 2010 from Seoul Station, where some airlines check passengers in and through immigration, to Incheon Airport over the lower deck of the Yeongjong Bridge.
Wikipedia ↗
Scenic (5)
- Baekdudaegan Canyon Train
White-and-crimson canyon cars crawl the upper Nakdong gorge at 30 km/h: stove-warmed in winter, windows flung open over rapids no road reaches.
Wikipedia ↗ - DMZ Peace Train
Tourist train relaunched in 2026, running to Dorasan: the last station on the line before North Korea, at the fenced edge of the DMZ.
Wikipedia ↗ - S-train (Namdo Ocean)
Since September 2025 the S-train sweeps the whole south coast from Busan to Mokpo, crossing the brand-new Boseong–Imseongri line past tea fields and tidal bays.
Wikipedia ↗ - A-train (Jeongseon Arirang)
The Arirang-themed A-train leaves the Jungang main line at Jecheon and threads the Jeongseon canyon to Auraji, where two mountain torrents meet.
Wikipedia ↗ - G-train (West Gold)
The West Gold train ambles down the Janghang line’s tidal-flat coast, foot baths steaming on board, with Daecheon beach and the Geum estuary out the window.
Wikipedia ↗
Luxury (1)
- Rail Cruise Haerang
Korea’s only sleeper cruise: three days around the entire peninsula from Seoul (Suncheon Bay, Busan, Gyeongju, the Jeongdongjin sunrise), with the train as the hotel.
Photos via Wikimedia Commons; each route page credits the author & licence
What is the fastest train in South Korea?
The KTX, running Seoul to Busan at up to 305 km/h. It is one of 18 routes in South Korea in this atlas.
Are there night trains in South Korea?
Not in this atlas. South Korea has 18 routes here and none of them is a scheduled sleeper, though night trains from neighbouring countries may still reach it.
Can you cross the border by train from South Korea?
No route in this atlas crosses a land border out of South Korea. Every line listed here begins and ends inside the country.
Which is the most scenic railway in South Korea?
South Korea has 5 scenic or mountain lines in this atlas. The longest is the S-train (Namdo Ocean), 345 km.