South Korea
Country Details
Name: South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea; 대한민국; Daehan Minguk
Language: Korean
Currency: South Korean Won (KRW); (₩)
National railway system
National Railway Operator
Korean Railroad (Korail).
Infrastructure Authority
KRNA Korea Rail Network Authority; 한국철도시설공단
UIC code
numeric 61; alpha KNR
Timetable
Information is available at the Man in Seat 61.
Journey Planner
The Letskorail journey planner.
Downloadable Timetable
The downloaded excel format timetables, both effective from 2 April 2015, are in Korean only but with station names in English as well.
Printed Timetable
None known.
Summary timetables are available in some editions of the European Rail Timetable.
Engineering Information
None.
Maps
Printed Maps
- Quail Map Company's Korea, North and South, Railway Map ISBN: 978 1898319 21 4 was published in 1996.
Web-based Maps
- Korail system map. Clicking on each tab under “Railroad Route Map” highlights each separate route.
- More recent map in Korean characters only
- South Korea Railroad Map; click on “image hosted on flickr” to enlarge the map.
Ticketing
Korea Rail Pass information is available on the Korearailway website. Note that the Happy Rail Pass appears to be restricted to foreigners who live in Korea.
Infrastructure
Gauge
Standard.
Electrification
25kV 50Hz on all the Korail operated network except the Ilsan Line, AREX 1500V DC on all rapid transit networks including the Korail Ilsan Line
Rule of the road
Left; right on some of the Seoul metro lines not operated by Korail.
Other Railways
None.
Tourist Lines
- Jeongseon Auraji Rail Bike
- Other Rail Bikes
- Gangchon Rail Park
- Seomjingang River also on Seomjingang River or Gokseong Train Village
Metro
Seoul, Busan, Daegu, Gwangju, Daejeon, Incheon.
A map with the location of Urban Railways is on the Korearailway website. There are links to route maps of the city metros on the same page.
Trams
None.
Recent and Future Changes
In July 2016, the government approved the following new lines:
- Chuncheon - Sokcho (94 km) in the northeastern province of Gangwon.
And south of Seoul
- A link from the Seoul – Busan high speed line to Eocheon station on the Su-In Line (3.5 km)
- A link at Soejeong-ri (4.7 km) to enable more high speed trains to serve Suwon.
Obscure or Sparse Passenger Services
[Gwangju – ] Geungnakgang – Gwangju-Songjeong KR1
Geungnakgang and Gwangju stations are served by triangular access from the west. The north arm is used by services to and from Gwangju not booked to call at Gwangju-Songjeong station; the south arm is used only by four train pairs daily calling at both Gwangju and Gwangju-Songjeong (services Gwangju ⇔ Mokpo or Suncheon) and by one train pair Mokpo ⇔ Bujeon. Service at October 2013: 1981 0655 Gwangju - Mokpo and 1982 1840 return 1951 0625 Bujeon - Mokpo and 1954 0910 return 1972 0610 and 1974 1852 Gwangju - Suncheon and 1971 0620 and 1973 1735 return Through trains Seoul ⇔ Mokpo use the third side of the triangle, serving Gwangju-Songjeong station and thus avoiding Geungnakgang and Gwangju stations. Report updated: November 2013
Jeonui – Osong KR2
This curve permits north - east movements at Jochiwon. Service at October 2013: 1282 0900 Jecheon - Seoul and 1281 1805 Seoul - Jecheon. Reported: November 2013
Angang – Seogyeongju KR3
This curve permits east - west movements at Gyeongju. Service at October 2013: 1042 0800 and 1044 1720 Pohang - Seoul and 1041 0935 and 1043 1605 return. Reported: November 2013
Hayang – Bugyeongcheon KR4
This curve permits west to north movements at Yeongcheon. Service at October 2013: 1672 0615 and 1674 1630 Dongdaegu - Gangneung and 1671 0615 and 1673 1722 return. Reported: November 2013
Special Notes
None.
