How to Buy Korail KTX Train Ticket and Get a Discount |Train to Busan with Pic Instruction

Have you watched the movie, Train to Busan? It is a zombie movie set in KTX train from Seoul to Busan. I loved it so much, I decided to go down to Busan by KTX train. I wrote a full guide on what to do in Busan here. 

 

KTX train is an express train that will take you to Busan in three hours. If you drive it will usually take on average 5-7 hours. when you go to the website, it is confusing and stressful to book. So I will write down in detail how to book a KTX train. Also, at the end I will show you how to get a discount. 

Choosing the Right Type of Train Ticket

Are you planning on going to more than one place? For example, are you going to just Busan or Busan/ back to Seoul or Busan/ GyeongJu/Seoul? If you are having only one stop, it is best to buy the Rail Ticket, but if you are going to places after places, it is cheaper to buy the Korail Pass. I will explain more about korail pass later on. 

 

If you are not sure where to visit and are still on planning stage, please read my post about “everything you need to know about Korea and how to save 30% on transportation/SIM card etc.“

You Can Either Book a One Time Train Ticket or a Korail Pass 

• Rail Ticket: It is a one time ticket to Busan. You can either buy the standard seats or the first class seat. 
• Korail Pass: is only for foreign travelers with unlimited pass within a time frame. You can choose from  3, or 5 days, and you can use it for KTX, KTX-Sancheon, ITX-Saemaeul, Saemaeul, Mugunghwa or Nuriro Trains. Don’t panic. You don’t have to worry about which train you have to take. I will walk you through it. It will be easy breezy.  Note: This only applies for standard seat, and you cannot use the first class with this ticket.
  • Saver Pass: applies to groups of 2-5 people
  • Youth Pass: applies to individuals from 13 years old to 25 years old
• Happy Rail Pass: This is a pass for foreigners who live in Korea

 

If you are planning to buy Korail Pass, there are few things you have to keep in mind. Please don’t make these mistakes and waste your time and money. It is very important to keep these things in mind before buying Korail Pass. 

Related Blog Post: Mistakes People Make While Buying Korail Pass | Things to Know Before Buying Korail Pass

 

 

How to Buy the KTX Tickets Online

I will walk you through with pictures to help you have a better experience (Korail Pass explanation after how to buy one train ticket): 

 

1. Booking through Korail website

You will need you name, passport number and your credit card. Because it only applies for foreigners, you will need your passport. 

Click Here to Korail Ticket Reservation

 

2. After booking, download the “Korail App” or print out the voucher/eticket

You will be given a QR code, and you can either download on your phone or print it out. You can also download the Korail App on Android or Iphone and save it in there (I used the app which was less hassle).

 

3. Only for Korail Pass (Skip If You Are Buying KTX Ticket)

Exchange the etickets to actual ticket at the Seoul Station. There are many types of Korail Pass and it can be confusing to understand the difference. So I made a separate post about what it means by each tickets and what you need to know before buying your ticket. 

Related Blog Post: Mistakes People Make While Buying Korail Pass | Things to Know Before Buying Korail Pass 

Upon arrival at Seoul Station (Subway Line 1 or 4, Exit 1), exchange your eticket for a pass at the information center. Please do not forget to bring your CREDIT CARD and PASSPORT. They will not give you the pass unless you have your passport because this is only for foreigner.

PLEASE BRING YOUR CREDIT CARD AND PASSPORT

You will not be able to choose the seat you want, but what is the harm of asking for the seat. If you booked a one time ticket, you are already assigned (You can just skip three and four)

Look for the platform number and get there before five minutes of departure time

Enjoy your trip!

 

RELATED: Not far from Seoul Station, there is my favorite chicken stew, Samgyetang, restaurant. It is near gyungbok palace, and you should definitely try it when you get a chance. You can read more about it here. 

 

 

How to Buy Korail Pass Ticket Cheaper and Easier

I am sure you will find it not too hard to book it through KTX website, but the easiest way to buy KTX ticket is through Klook.

I did it that way and the only reason is because if I make a mistake, it will be hard to go through cusomter service with KTX (because of lack of language service). So if you make a mistake it is so much easier to go through Klook customer service than Korean Korail CS.

The KTX ticket price is the same. Also, you can use a code “MOBILE10” when check out for $1 discount when you use their mobile APP (Hey, at least it is a discount!). If you are booking the ticket in Hong Kong, you can use “KAUTUMN9” for 10% discount. It won’t work if you are booking it in other countries. I tried it and didn’t work. Also, they have flash sales, so you can check if it is cheaper than website before buying KTX train tickets. 

Check the Price of KTX or Korail Pass on Klook

 

P.S. If You Are Thinking of Booking First Class, This Is What It Looks Like