South Korea’s two high-speed rail operators have merged. Effective September 1, 2026, SR Corporation — which operated the SRT (Super Rapid Train) network — was absorbed into KORAIL, the country’s state rail operator. The result is a single high-speed rail system with lower fares, one booking platform, and unified loyalty points.
What Changed
Before the merger, South Korea ran two competing high-speed networks on overlapping routes. KTX trains (operated by KORAIL) served routes including Seoul Suseo to Busan, Gwangju, and Yeosu. SRT trains (operated by SR Corporation) used the same high-speed lines but originated from Seoul Suseo Station rather than Seoul Station, appealing to passengers in the southeastern districts of the capital.
The duplication made booking confusing for visitors, who had to check two separate apps and websites — KORAIL Talk for KTX, SRT app for SRT — often for trains running within minutes of each other.
As of September 1:
- SR Corporation is dissolved. All former SRT trains now operate under KORAIL as KTX services.
- Fares cut approximately 10%. KORAIL has reduced fares on routes where SRT previously competed to reflect the removal of the premium SRT differential.
- KORAIL+ app is the single booking platform, available in seven languages including English, Chinese, and Japanese.
- Suseo Station remains in use as an alternative Seoul departure point for southeastern routes.
Why This Matters for Travellers
For international visitors, the merger simplifies planning significantly. Previously, finding the cheapest or fastest option required checking both KORAIL Talk and the SRT app simultaneously. Now all trains — including former SRT departures from Suseo — appear in one place.
The Seoul–Busan route is among the most popular for tourists. Journey time is around 2 hours 15 minutes on the fastest KTX services, and the 10% fare reduction brings prices down to roughly 59,000–79,000 KRW one-way in standard class, depending on departure time.
For getting around Seoul on arrival, see our guide to getting around Korea. For activity ideas in each city, browse best tours in Seoul and best tours in Busan.
How to Book
The KORAIL+ app is available on iOS and Android and supports booking with international credit cards. Seats can also be booked on the KORAIL website. Rail passes (Korea Rail Pass) remain valid for all services including former SRT routes.
We recommend booking popular routes — especially Seoul–Busan on holiday weekends — at least a week in advance. The Chuseok (autumn harvest) holiday in late September 2026 is likely to see high demand.