Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
papers and mineral water. KTX speed and service come at a reasonable premium: A one-
way Seoul-Busan journey typically costs about 60,000 won, or around 80,000 won for first
class.
Purchasing tickets for all classes of train travel is a straightforward affair. Given the fre-
quency of most services, reservations are not absolutely necessary except for travel on
weekends and important holidays such as Lunar New Year, when millions of Koreans make
their way back to their hometowns.
Train tickets can be booked through travel agents such as Hana Tour, at Korea Tourism
Organization information centers, or purchased directly, up to two months in advance, at
train station ticket counters or automatic ticketing machines. Major stations such as Seoul
and Busan have special counters staffed with foreign-language speakers for overseas vis-
itors, but in smaller towns you'll be on your own. Korail also runs an on-again, off-again
English-language Internet booking system, though tickets reserved this way still have to be
picked up at the station of departure.
Korail offers discounts on fares of up to 75 percent for children, seniors, and student pas-
sengers, as well as smaller reductions for passengers purchasing tickets early, using auto-
matic ticketing machines, or changing trains. These are generally applied automatically at
the time of purchase. Foreign nationals can also take advantage of the “KR Pass,” which is
similar to European rail passes and allows unlimited travel on the rail network for periods
of three to ten days for a cut-rate flat fee, but these have to be purchased overseas at desig-
nated travel agents.
Bus travel may suffer from an image problem in most parts of North America, but in South
Korea it's by and large a delight, rivaled only by the train in terms of comfort and very often
the fastest way between points A and B. Buses connect almost every point in the country
and travel in designated lanes on many roads and highways to help them avoid the traffic
snarls that plague so many car drivers. Best of all, they run frequently and are a very good
value, with fares rarely exceeding 30,000 won even for the longest trips.
