KTX tickets: booking two months ahead (new since October 2026) and avoiding sold-out trains
Since 1 October 2026, train tickets can be booked 60 days before departure. Where foreigners can buy, which cards work, and the 2027 Lunar New Year.
Machine translation from French, being reviewed. Read the French version (reference)
Contents
KTX trains between Seoul, Busan, Gyeongju or Gangneung are often sold out at weekends and during holidays. Good news: since October 2026, you can book earlier.
What changed
Since 1 October 2026, train tickets can be booked 2 months before departure, instead of one month. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and KORAIL announced it on 20 September 20261. For example, a train on 20 December opens for booking around 21 October2.
Why? From January to August 2026, 6.69 million foreign travellers took the train, 68% more than a year earlier1.
Where foreigners can book
- On the KORAIL website and app (Let's Korail), whose foreigners' booking site exists in 7 languages. French, German and Mongolian are due to be added by the end of the year1.
- Foreign Visa, Mastercard and UnionPay cards are accepted; WeChat Pay and Alipay are being prepared1.
Lunar New Year 2027
The Lunar New Year (설날) runs from Saturday 6 to Tuesday 9 February 20273. These are the days when all of Korea travels. Note: the announcement does not say how the 60-day rule applies to special holiday sales, which used to follow their own schedule2. For these dates, check when sales open on the KORAIL site.
The KORAIL Pass
The KORAIL Pass is sold to foreign tourists, but it does not guarantee a seat: you must reserve seats separately2.
In DariTransport passes: which ones are worth itFrequently asked questions
How far ahead can I book a KTX?
Two months before departure, since 1 October 20261.
Can I pay for a KTX ticket with a foreign card?
Yes, Visa, Mastercard and UnionPay are accepted on KORAIL's booking site1.
Sources
- SBS Biz, billets KTX réservables deux mois avant à partir d'octobre (20/09/2026) · checked on 26 October 2026
- Namane, fenêtre de réservation KTX doublée (2026) · checked on 26 October 2026
- kholidayz, Seollal 2027 · checked on 26 October 2026