KORAIL PASS 2026: Types, Prices and Is It Worth It

Overview

The KORAIL PASS is a rail pass sold only to foreign visitors. It gives unlimited travel on trains run by Korail, the national railway, on a set number of days. That includes the KTX high-speed network linking Seoul with Busan, Gyeongju, Gangneung, Jeonju and Gwangju, plus the slower ITX, Saemaeul and Mugunghwa trains.

The pass was simplified on 11 December 2025. Korail now sells one family of “select” passes: you pick a start date, then use the pass on any 2, 3, 4 or 5 days within the following 10 days. The days do not have to be back to back. Only two age groups remain: adult (13 and over) and child (6 to 12). Passes bought before 11 December 2025 keep the old rules.

Prices are set in Korean won, so what you pay in your own currency depends on the exchange rate on the day of purchase.

Pass types and prices

All four passes work the same way; the only difference is the number of travel days. On Korail’s booking form they appear as “KORAIL pass FX (2 day use)” to “KORAIL pass FX (5 day use)”. Prices below are the official Korail prices for standard-class travel.

Select passes (any days within 10 days)

KORAIL PASS 2-day select

Type	Select pass, days need not be consecutive
Duration	Any 2 days within 10 days of the starting date
Conditions	Foreign visitors only. Up to 2 reserved seats per day; standing or unreserved travel unlimited.
Price	Adult (13+) Child (6–12) Standard class ₩131,000 ₩66,000

KORAIL PASS 3-day select

Type	Select pass, days need not be consecutive
Duration	Any 3 days within 10 days of the starting date
Conditions	Foreign visitors only. Up to 2 reserved seats per day; standing or unreserved travel unlimited.
Price	Adult (13+) Child (6–12) Standard class ₩186,000 ₩93,000

KORAIL PASS 4-day select

Type	Select pass, days need not be consecutive
Duration	Any 4 days within 10 days of the starting date
Conditions	Foreign visitors only. Up to 2 reserved seats per day; standing or unreserved travel unlimited.
Price	Adult (13+) Child (6–12) Standard class ₩234,000 ₩117,000

KORAIL PASS 5-day select

Type	Select pass, days need not be consecutive
Duration	Any 5 days within 10 days of the starting date
Conditions	Foreign visitors only. Up to 2 reserved seats per day; standing or unreserved travel unlimited.
Price	Adult (13+) Child (6–12) Standard class ₩275,000 ₩138,000

One child under 6 travels free with each paying passenger aged 13 or over. Korail’s current price table lists only adult and child fares; youth, group (“saver”) and consecutive-day versions that some resellers still describe are not part of the official 2026 range.

KORAIL PASS Plus (rail pass and transit card)

Since 29 December 2025 Korail has offered KORAIL PASS Plus. You buy a normal KORAIL PASS, then pay an extra ₩8,000 to add a Rail+ prepaid transport card. Once topped up, the card works on subways and buses across the country and in some shops, such as station convenience stores. You register the pass number on the KORAIL PASS Plus website (korailpassplus.korailnetworks.com) and collect the card from a dedicated kiosk at Incheon International Airport or at major KTX stations including Seoul, Busan, Dongdaegu and Daejeon.

What the pass covers and what it doesn’t

Covered: standard-class seats, standing places and unreserved seats on KTX trains (including KTX-Sancheon and KTX-Eum) and on conventional trains: ITX-Cheongchun, ITX-Saemaeul, Saemaeul, Mugunghwa, Nuriro and regular tourist trains.

Not covered: metropolitan railways (the subway and commuter lines) and special tourist trains. First class is not included, but pass holders can book a first-class seat for 50% of the first-class price on that route.

Airport trains: the AREX express from Incheon Airport is not covered, but Korail lists a pass-holder discount on the express ticket (₩12,000 instead of ₩13,000).

The pass may also be restricted on certain dates, such as major holidays; Korail announces these on its website.

Seat reservations

The pass alone lets you ride, but a seat reservation guarantees a seat. Reservations are free within the limits below.

• Seats open for booking from 07:00, one month before the travel date. Online booking closes 20 minutes before departure.
• You can reserve up to two seats per day (one per day if the journey involves a transfer ticket).
• Standing travel is unlimited. If a train is full, you can still board with your pass and passport and stand.
• You cannot book the same journey twice on the same date. To change trains, cancel the existing seat under MY TICKET, then book again, before departure.
• Before reserving, add each travel day to your pass under MY TICKET, then DETAILS, then “Add” next to Departure Date.
• Show the pass or seat ticket on the Korail mobile website screen; a screenshot is not accepted.

How to buy and activate

1. Buy the pass on Korail’s English website (korail.com, under KORAIL PASS, then BOOK KORAIL PASS). It is also sold at train stations and through designated travel agencies.
2. Choose the pass type, passenger type and the starting date. The 10-day window begins on that date.
3. Register each travel date within the window, then reserve seats as above.
4. Board with your pass, your passport and any seat ticket.

You can change the starting date once after purchase. The pass type, passenger type and personal details cannot be changed; you would need to refund and buy again.

Refunds

• Refunds are free up to the day before the starting date (Korean time). Once the pass has started, no refund is possible.
• Cancel all seat reservations first.
• Online refunds work only for passes bought online. Passes bought at a station or travel agency must be refunded there.
• Korail does not pay compensation to pass holders for train delays or cancellations.

Is it worth it?

Compare the pass with standard adult one-way KTX fares. Korail cut KTX fares by an average of about 10% on 1 September 2026, which makes many single tickets cheaper than before.

Route	Train	Standard adult one-way
Seoul – Busan	KTX	₩54,400
Yongsan (Seoul) – Gwangju Songjeong	KTX	₩42,000
Seoul – Gangneung	KTX-Eum	₩27,600

A simple rule: divide the pass price by its number of days. The pass pays off only if your tickets average more than that per travel day.

Pass	Adult price	Break-even per travel day
2-day	₩131,000	₩65,500
3-day	₩186,000	₩62,000
4-day	₩234,000	₩58,500
5-day	₩275,000	₩55,000

A single Seoul–Busan ride (₩54,400) is below the break-even figure for every pass. A Seoul–Busan round trip costs ₩108,800 in single tickets, less than the ₩131,000 2-day pass. The pass makes sense when you take two long journeys on most travel days, for example Seoul to Gyeongju in the morning and on to Busan in the evening. It does not make sense for short hops such as Seoul–Gangneung.

Single tickets also have discounts that the pass does not, such as cheaper online fares on quieter KTX trains. Compare both options for your actual route plan.

Alternatives

• Single tickets: buy on Korail’s English website, at stations and ticket machines, or in the Korail+ app. Since September 2026 the Korail+ app lists every high-speed train, including those from Suseo.
• Express and intercity buses: they reach towns without a rail station and run frequently on many routes. See our transportation overview.
• City transport: the pass does not cover subways or buses. Use a T-money card or the KORAIL PASS Plus card in Seoul, Busan and other cities.

Where to go next

The pass suits a loop through Seoul, Gyeongju and Busan. For other ways of getting around, see the transportation hub. Before you fly, check K-ETA requirements.