DailyWiz

Korea train planning · verified for 2026

Is the KORAIL Pass worth it for your trip?

A rail pass is not automatically cheaper. Enter the trips you will actually take, and this calculator compares your ticket total with every current pass option that fits your travel days.

Free calculator

Compare your itinerary

Add the one-way fare for every KORAIL train you plan to take. Use the same day number for multiple trains taken on one day.

Train trips

Your result

Add at least one fare to see the comparison.

Only rows with a day number of 1 or more and a fare above ₩0 are included.

Who is the KORAIL Pass actually good for?

The pass tends to work best for eligible foreign visitors taking several long-distance KORAIL trains in a compact itinerary. A few expensive KTX journeys can make a pass worthwhile; one return trip often does not.

Compare the fare for every segment, not just your longest ride. The pass price changes by traveller type, while the number and spacing of your travel days determine which pass can be used at all.

What the pass covers — and what it does not

Covered

  • All KORAIL trains: KTX, KTX-Eum, ITX-Saemaeul, ITX-Cheongchun, Mugunghwa and more
  • Unlimited rides on your chosen pass days

Not covered — SRT is not included

  • SRT high-speed trains — run by SR, a different company (they leave from Suseo, not Seoul Station)
  • Seoul Metro and other city subways — pay with T-money or the Climate Card
  • Private lines and tourist trains that require a separate supplement

Eligibility and seat reservations

Who can buy it

  • Foreign passport holders only
  • Korean nationals and Korean permanent-residence passport holders cannot buy it
  • You show the same passport you registered when boarding

How reservations work

Free reserved seats are limited to two per day.

  • Seats can be reserved from 30 days before travel
  • Free seat reservations are limited to twice per day
  • After that you can still ride the same day as a standee — the pass stays valid

Exact break-even example

One Seoul–Busan round trip is still cheaper as tickets

The verified adult KTX economy fare from Seoul to Busan is ₩59,800 one way. A round trip is ₩119,600, which is ₩11,400 less than the 2-Day Select Pass at ₩131,000. For that trip alone, buy individual tickets.

How we checked

Prices and rules last cross-checked on . Train fares and pass terms can change, so confirm the final price and conditions before purchase.

Found a fare or rule that needs updating? Send a correction.