This is a post specifically for Korail Pass. If you want to know how to buy either Korail pass or KTX train ticket, you can check out my other blog post. I have written in detail to smooth your travel experience in Seoul 🙂
What is KORAIL PASS?
Korail pass is an unlimited pass for all trains (except for subways). It is a special discount pass for non-korean passport holder. It is for foreigners to help them use the korail ticket with no stress.
It can be very useful if you are planning a Busan roundtrip from Seoul or simply going out of town to Jeonju, Tongyeong to Suncheonn.
Important Notes on Buying Korail pass
- Changing the personal information or pass type is not possible after purchase. Only the ‘first date of travel with KORAIL PASS’ can be changed(1 time only) before it starts.
- You need to show your credit card and Passport when you pick up your ticket
- You can only book your seat one month prior to your departure
Korail Pass Ticket Purchase
You can either book it on their website or on Klook. You can read more about it here about the benefits of booking it on either sites. But here are some details on what the difference is:
| Type | NORMAL | SAVER (2∼5) |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| ADULT | CHILD | ||
| 3 consecutive day pass | 138,000 | 69,000 | 128,000 |
| 5 consecutive day pass | 210,000 | 105,000 | 200,000 |
| 2 day select pass | 121,000 | 61,000 | 111,000 |
| 4 day select pass | 193,000 | 97,000 | 183,000 |
- Adult Pass: age from 13
- Child Pass: age between 6 to 12 +
- Children under 6: free of charge when fare-paying guardian(age over 13) accompanies (one child per one guardian allowed)
- Saver Pass: passengers with same itinerary as a group of 2 to 5
Consecutive pass
The first date of commencement, it is valid for 3 or 5 days in-a-row. It means if you start your 3 day consecutive pass on 3/1/2019, it will be avaialable to use till 3/3/2019.
Flexible/select pass
The first date of commencement, choose 2 or 4 days within 10 days. It means if you start your 2 day consecutive pass on 3/1/2019, you will be able to use another day untill 3/10/2019. If you are using 4 days flexible, it means that you can use 3 more days untill 3/10/2019.
Korail Travel Centre Address
Korail travel centers : Seoul, Yongsan, Suwon, Yeongdeungpo, Cheongnyangni, Masan, Busan, Ulsan Dongdaegu, Gwangju-Songjeong, Mokpo, Yeosu-Expo, Suncheon, Iksan, Daejeon, CheonanAsan, Jecheon, Yeongju, Pyeongchang station
If you are planning on going to Busan from Seoul, check my blog post on how to get to Busan from Seoul by KTX. If you are looking for going to Gangneung or Pyeongchang, you can check my blog post here.
Reserving a Seat
- Put in your Korail pass number
- You can reserve a seat twice a day
- If you reserved it twice in a day, and have to ride a train the third time in a day, you can go with no seat. which means you have a stand up or look for empty seats.
- I don’t see that many people riding a train three times a day though
- You can only reserve one month prior to your departure
- If the seats are sold out or used 2 seat tickets within a day, you can go as a standee
Korail Pass Worth It?
If you can buy a single ticket for 60,000 won, is it worth buying a Korail pass?
I think it’s worth buying a korail pass if you are doing a round trip from Seoul to Busan, because it is already 120,000 won to buy a round trip. The system to buy a Korail Pass is really easy to navigate for foreigners as well.
I would definitely recommend buying Korail pass because of its ease to use for foreigners who don’t speak much Korea.
Please let me know below comment if you need more help or question about Korail pass. Also, if it were helpful, please let me know below as well!