Train to Busan from Seoul – KTX (Bullet Train)

Busan is South Korea’s second-most-popular city after Seoul. Visiting the city is included in our SorKor trip. The plan was to stay there for one whole day and return to Seoul the next day.

If you want to save time, the quickest and easiest way to go to Busan from downtown Seoul is by taking the KTX train. As a reminder, don’t forget to buy KORAIL PASS (Flexible 2-Day Pass) if you are traveling with 2 or more people. This will surely help you save money for a round trip to Busan.

How to Take KTX Train from Seoul to Busan

We wanted to maximize our time so we look for the fastest transportation – something that will not eat most of our time. Going to Busan can either be done by plane, train, bus, or private rental car. Looking for a flight is an option but we couldn’t find one that fit our budget. The cheaper way is by bus or car but it will take us more or less 6 to 8 hours from Seoul to Busan. Na-ah!… So the best option for us is by train. Trains to Busan are at Seoul Station (Subway Station).

Bus: 6-8 Hours
KTX Train: 2 Hours
Flight: 2 Hours

So, if you’re looking for the best and fastest way to get to Busan like us, this is definitely a great option. 🙂

How to buy KTX tickets

We have the option to purchase our tickets online. But since we are not sure what time we can get to Seoul station, we decided to purchase our tickets at their ticketing booth.

Upon entering Seoul station ( Ground floor), on the left side is their ticketing booth. They also have a ticketing machine beside their booth which we didn’t use because we wanted to ask for the earliest schedule.

We got our ticket for 59,800 won (Php 2,797.12 with the current conversion rate). Tickets come with reserved seating. The departure area is also on the ground floor. Just walk straight ahead, in front of MCDO. Boarding time is usually 15 mins before the departure time. There is a display board that shows train departure information. Check the train number on the departure board. If it has a red circle beside the terminal name, then you can enter the boarding gate. Actually almost the same as how we board an airplane. The KTX train departs every 30 to 60 minutes from Seoul Station.

We got the earliest ticket 5:15 AM and the train is not crowded. It has wifi on board and is very comfy.

How can I forget that these trains were featured in Korean TV shows such as ‘Running Man’ and ‘Infinite Challenge’. Also used as a filming location for the movie ‘TRAIN TO BUSAN‘.

KTX train is indeed a bullet train of Korea, we arrived at exactly 7:15 AM ready to explore Busan.

During peak season and school holidays, the KTX train tickets sell fast, so it’s best to book online to guarantee your seat.

If you have questions let me know in the comment section below.