Does SRT still exist as a separate train?

No. The transport ministry says KTX and SRT began running as one integrated KTX service on 1 September 2026. The SRT site now points former SRT routes to the Korail+ app and Korail's English site.

Can I pay with a foreign credit card?

Yes. Korail's English guide says you pay by credit card, and the ministry lists Visa, Mastercard and UnionPay among accepted foreign cards. It says WeChat Pay and Alipay are still being developed.

Is a screenshot of my ticket valid?

No. Korail's pass page says a screenshot of a train ticket is not accepted. Open the ticket on the Korail website or app on your phone, or print it.

Is the KORAIL PASS cheaper than single tickets?

It depends on how many long trips you take. A 2-day adult pass is ₩131,000, while one Seoul to Busan ticket is ₩54,400, so the pass pays off only with several long rides in its days.

KTX Booking for Foreigners: Korail Site, App and SRT Merger

What to do

Use Korail’s English website (korail.com, English section) or the Korail+ app to search, pay and get a mobile ticket. Pay with a foreign credit card. Write down the email address and password you used, because Korail asks for both to show your ticket later.

Book early for weekends and holidays. Since 1 October 2026, tickets go on sale at 07:00 two months before the departure date, double the old one-month window.

What changed in 2026

Two big changes landed in autumn 2026, and many older guides have not caught up.

SRT merged into KTX on 1 September 2026. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport says KTX and SRT now run as one integrated KTX service. High-speed fares were set at the old SRT level, about 10% below previous KTX fares on average.
One app. Korail Talk was updated into a new app called Korail+ on 3 August 2026. Trains running from 1 September onward, including those from Suseo Station, are booked in Korail+ or on Korail’s website. The ministry says the old Korail Talk and SRT apps keep a booking function for the time being, but the SRT app only allows non-member booking.
Two-month booking window. From 1 October 2026, KTX and other Korail tickets can be bought two months ahead instead of one.

Step by step

Open Korail’s English site or the Korail+ app.
Pick departure and arrival stations, date and number of passengers. On Korail’s Korean site you can show Seoul, Yongsan and Suseo together, which helps since trains to Busan leave from more than one Seoul station.
Choose a train and a seat class: economy (standard) or first class. If seats are sold out, standing tickets may be offered.
Pay by credit card.
Keep the email and password. Show the ticket in the app or on Korail’s mobile site when asked.

You can also buy at ticket machines and counters in train stations, but not in subway stations. Korail’s guide says machines sell until 10 minutes before departure and station counters until departure.

Fare example: Seoul to Busan

Korean press reports of the ministry and Korail figures give the Seoul to Busan KTX fare as ₩54,400 from 1 September 2026, down from ₩59,800. Another example in the same report: Yongsan to Gwangju Songjeong went from ₩46,800 to ₩42,000.

Prices change with seat class, discounts and the train you pick, so treat these as the standard adult economy reference. The ministry also says online discounted fares of 10% to 30%, set by how full a train is, are now offered on former SRT routes too.

Refund fees

Cancel from “MY TICKET” on Korail’s website, or in the app for mobile tickets, before the departure time. After departure, refunds are only possible at a Korail station ticket office, and not at all after the train’s arrival time.

When you cancel	Mon to Thu	Fri to Sun and public holidays
2 months to 2 days before	No fee	Minimum fee
1 day before	No fee	5%
24 to 3 hours before	No fee	10%
Less than 3 hours before departure	5%	20%
Up to 20 minutes after departure	15%	30%
20 to 60 minutes after departure	40%	40%
60 minutes after departure to arrival	70%	70%

Korail also says special penalty rates apply in set periods such as traditional holidays. If you lose a ticket, you cannot ride, change or refund it, though if you paid by credit card you can buy a new one and claim a refund later, minus a minimum charge, once Korail confirms the lost ticket was not used.

KORAIL PASS

The KORAIL PASS still exists and is sold on Korail’s English site to foreign visitors only (not Korean nationals). You choose 2 to 5 travel days within a 10-day period from the start date.

Pass	Adult (13+)	Child (6 to 12)
2 days	₩131,000	₩66,000
3 days	₩186,000	₩93,000
4 days	₩234,000	₩117,000
5 days	₩275,000	₩138,000

One child under 6 rides free with each adult. You need a valid passport and a credit card to buy it, and the details must match your passport exactly. You reserve seats under “MY TICKET”, up to two per person per day, and first-class seats cost pass holders 50% of the first-class price. The pass is refundable with no fee until the day before it starts, and not at all after.

The pass does not cover metropolitan railways or temporary tourist trains. An older Korail notice, written before the merger, says it cannot be used on SRT trains. Check with Korail how former SRT services are handled before you plan around them. See the Korea Rail Pass guide for more.

Common mistakes

Relying on a guide that says SRT is booked on a separate site. After 1 September 2026 it is all Korail.
Assuming sales open one month ahead. Some Korail English pages still say so, but the ministry moved it to two months from 1 October 2026.
Forgetting the booking password, which you need to view or cancel the ticket.
Showing a screenshot instead of the live ticket.

When this does not apply

Subway lines and metropolitan trains around Seoul are not booked this way, and the KORAIL PASS does not cover them; use a transit card instead. For help in English, Korail’s call center is +82-1599-7777, open 08:00 to 20:00.