Nationwide, South Korea
KTX train tickets: when they go on sale
At 07:00 Korea time, two months before departure, on the same date: trains on 15 December go on sale at 07:00 on 15 October. The window doubled from one month on 1 October 2026, so older guides are out of date.
- When does booking open?
- 07:00 KST, two months before departure, on the same date. Trains on 15 December 2026 went on sale at 07:00 KST on 15 October. Holiday trains (Chuseok, Seollal) are sold in a separate period Korail announces each time. Korea Rail Pass seats still open one month before, by the pass’s English notice.
- How far ahead is that?
- Up to 2 months ahead.
- Where do I book?
- Korail’s English website or the KORAIL+ app, without a Korean ID and with a foreign card; or at stations. Up to 9 passengers per booking.
- Does it sell out?
- Korail publishes no figures. Friday evenings out of Seoul, Sunday afternoons back and long weekends are reported to go first; holiday trains have their own sale because demand is so high.
- Can I cancel or change?
- Monday to Thursday trains: free until 3 hours before, then 5%. Friday to Sunday and holidays: a small fee from 2 months to 2 days before, 5% the day before, 10% from 24 to 3 hours before, 20% after that. After departure, only at a station, and the fee climbs.
Checked 15 October 2026
How to book
Book on Korail’s English website or the KORAIL+ app. Without a Korean ID, you book as a non-member and find the ticket again with the email and password you set, so write them down. Foreign Visa, Mastercard and UnionPay cards work.
With a Korea Rail Pass (2 to 5 travel days, for visitors), reserve each seat under My Ticket, then Seat Reservation, up to 2 seats per person a day. The pass is not valid on SRT trains.
If it’s sold out
Korail’s waitlist lets you queue for a sold-out train online until 2 days before; if a seat comes up, pay by 18:00 that day. Stations sell standing tickets for sold-out trains.
Monday to Thursday tickets are returned free until 3 hours before, so look again close to the day. On many routes, ITX and Mugunghwa trains are slower but another way.
Booking for a group
Book everyone in one booking (up to 9 people) so the seats can be together. Children 6 to 12 pay half; under 6 pay a quarter, and one under-6 per adult rides free without a seat.
Korea Rail Pass details must match each passport exactly and cannot be changed after buying.
Good to know
- For a Friday, Sunday or long weekend, set an alarm for 07:00 KST two months before.
- With a rail pass, seats open only a month ahead: for a key peak-day journey, a ticket bought two months out may be safer.
Sources
- Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport: press release, 20 September 2026 (official, Korean): From 1 October, the booking period for KTX and other rail tickets grows from 1 month before departure to 2 months.
- Korail: ticketing guide (official): Tickets from 07:00 two months before the departure date, on the Korail website or the KORAIL+ app; the refund fees by day of the week and time.
- Korail: ticket reservation (official): Tickets up to 2 months in advance, for 1 to 9 passengers.
- Korail: FAQ (official, Korean): Sales from 07:00 two months before; a waitlist for sold-out trains until 2 days before, paid by 18:00 on the day a seat is given.
- Korail: Korea Rail Pass (official): Pass holders can book from 07:00 one month before departure; up to 2 seats per person a day; not on SRT trains.
- BeautiPin: how to book KTX as a foreigner (2 October 2026): Friday evenings out of Seoul, Sunday afternoons back and long weekends sell out first.
Checked on 15 October 2026. Booking rules change; the official site has the last word.