Do tickets for these Korean trains have to be booked in advance?

10/9/2016 9:38:58 AM

I’m a South Korean, so I guess I can give you the appropriate answer

The ITX is neither a fast train, nor a train that runs between Seoul and Busan. You just need to consider buying KTX ticket.

Unless you plan to take a train between Friday evening and Sunday evening, buying a ticket after you arrive at Korea won’t be a problem.
But I recommend you to buy the tickets one day before the train’s departure. There is a mobile application called Korail Talk from the Google Play Store and Apple App Store which makes it easier for you to buy a ticket on your mobile phone.
If the tickets are all gone, you can go the train station and buy a standing seat, which is cheaper, but only available at the station.

10/8/2016 7:39:01 PM

I’ve been to Korea with some friends two years ago and we could simply buy the tickets at the station. Most stations will understand English, and the ones you are going to should. Smaller/less touristic ones like the station in Mokpo will have some issues with English but nothing too big to not be able to buy tickets.

Be aware that:

  • Normally you will get backwards facing seats
  • Forward facing seats will cost (slightly) more
  • Family seats (2 sets of 2 seats facing each other will also cost (slightly) more

Also, if you are going from Seoul directly to Busan or from Busan directly to Seoul do try to get the “direct” KTX. That will take about 1 hour of your travel time compared to one that stops at more stations.

Lastly, when you are leaving Seoul please do make sure that you have at least enough cash with you to get a return ticket and maybe some food. We made the mistake of not doing that to a couple of the smaller cities where the KTX stopped and had to walk back to the station get to an international ATM.

10/8/2016 5:24:06 PM

Do tickets for these Korean trains have to be booked in advance?

Apparently not, according to The Man in Seat 61:

You can buy tickets at the station, but trains are busy on Fridays and Sunday evenings, so buying in advance is a good idea. Trains are also busy around the two main 3-day national holidays, the lunar new year and Chuseok (meaning harvest, the 15th day of the 8th lunar month) as people travel home at these times.

Credit:stackoverflow.com‘

About me

Hello,My name is Aparna Patel,I’m a Travel Blogger and Photographer who travel the world full-time with my hubby.I like to share my travel experience.

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