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Korean
National Railroad
There are three kinds of trains in South Korea. Saemaeul-ho, Mugunghwa- ho and Tongil-ho. Saemaeul-ho, the fastest, is an express train equipped with a dining car and provides services of the highest quality including a wireless public phone and an area for using a notebook computer. Mugunghwa-ho is probably the most appropriate train service for travelers. Mugunghwa-ho not only has the greatest number of lines connecting city to city but also offers reasonable prices and frequent operation compared to Saemaeul-ho. There is also Tongil-ho, which runs between small train stations in quiet country villages. If you want to see in person the backgrounds of serene Korean movies and soft operas, then taking this train is a great way to do it.
Click here for a link to Korail, Korea's national railroad.
The departure station depends on the destination. Generally you can use Cheongryangri Station when leaving Seoul for the northern areas of Gyeonggi-do, Gangreung or Chuncheon, and you can use Seoul Station or Yeongdeungpo Station to reach the southern areas of Gyeonggi-do, Daejeon, Busan or Gwangju. It is possible to reserve train tickets by phone or by the internet. Fares may vary depending on the distance. The first train normally leaves between 06:00 and 07:00 and the final train arrives at the destination before 24:00.
Seoul
Station
Seoul Station
is the main train terminal
in Seoul. It is located in downtown Seoul on Subway Line 4. Many
buses also stop near or close to Seoul Station. Ask your bus driver
for "Seoul Yok" (Seoul Station).
Korean
Railway Pass
A KR PASS allows
foreigners who visit South Korea to use the train freely or to
receive a discount during a fixed period. This pass is convenient
for those who have to travel many times from city to city during
a fixed period (3, 5, 7 and 10 days). It is free of charge for
children under five years old, a 50% discount is offered for children
6 to 12 years old, a 20% discount is offered for adolescents 23
to 25 years old and groups receive a 10% discount. As of July, 2008, the price of a KR PASS is $75 USD (75,900 won) for a three day adult ticket,
$114 USD (113,900 won) for a five day ticket, $144 USD (143,900 won) for a seven day pass and $166 USD (166,000 won) for a ten day ticket. For more info, check out Korail's Railway Pass page.
KR
Pass
In South Korea, taking
a train is a good choice for a business trips or long-distance trips
because the train is rarely delayed except in special circumstances
like natural disasters or accidents.
For all domestic flights, you use Gimpo Airport. For all international flights, use Incheon International Airport.
Buses are a great a scenic way to get around Seoul. Although many are in Korean, more and more buses are using bilingual banners announcing major stops.
