KORAIL PASS - Travel around South Korea with an unlimited-ride pass !

by - Thursday, October 15, 2015


If you plan to visit Korea and want to travel around not within Seoul or Busan by trains,
you might save your expense by using KORAIL PASS or KR PASS.


สำหรับข้อมูล KR PASS ภาษาไทย สามารถติดตามอ่านได้ที่ลิงค์นี้เลยค่ะ
เที่ยวทั่วเกาหลีแบบประหยัดด้วยพาสสุดคุ้ม KR PASS




It's a special unlimited-ride pass for the Standard
Class seats of the KTX, KTX-Sancheon, Saemaeul,
Mugunghwa and Nuriro trains for a fixed period of time 

Update as at August 1, 2017

I will leave information about old system (before August 1, 2017)
 for those who already made the reservation with the old one.
I will eventually remove it from my blog soon.



PRICE OF KORAIL PASS






The 1, 3, 5 and 7 day pass must be used in consecutive days.
 Newly pass, Flexible Pass will be valid only 10 days.
You can choose your travel dates as you wish within 10 days.


If you plan to go to Busan as one-day trip,
it's better to use this pass than buying a regular ticket.
It is so much cheaper.

Youth Pass for those ages who are 13 between 25 or students hold ISIC card.




HOW TO BUY

You can buy it online at Koreail Website, some travel agencies,
or KORAIL Travel Center
and redeem it at a KORAIL station and Incheon International Airport.



If you want to buy more than 1 pass (must be the same schedules as you),
at Passenger Style Type, choose "SAVER"
They will ask for information of your companion.

As you can see in the photo, once you make a reservation it online,
don't forget to print out your e-voucher/ticket !
They don't allow you to redeem to the real one without this voucher paper!


Update as at August 1, 2017

The first date of travel with KORAIL PASS is the first date you will use the pass,
not like the old system that required your date of arrival in Korea.
You can change this date only one time after making a reservation
so be sure about your schedule before booking.



You can use the document you print after you make a reservation
on KORAIL website as your KR Pass or you might as well print it at any KORAIL stations in Korea.

Please remember that reissue a Korail Pass is possible only one time
at ‘MY RESERVATION.’



 Reissue or reprint of KORAIL PASS and train ticket is NOT available at train stations.
Please bring 
printed-out pass and tickets for valid use. 


You should select your first date of travel within 90 days after the date you purchase the KR Pass.




HOW TO REDEEM


You can redeem it any KORAIL station. Don't need to be on the date you want to use.
Just tell the staff which date you want to use.
At the KORAIL counter, you need to show
your passport, e-voucher and credit card you have used to make a reservation.
(They will charge you on this day.)

For the Saver pass, you will get only 1 KR pass per group.
You will also have to show all of your companions' passports when you redeem it.

You must redeem your voucher at a KORAIL station within 180 days
from the date, the voucher is purchased.









HOW TO USE



At the KORAIL station, show your KORAIL PASS
and tell them which train you want to make a reservation.
You can make it in advance to be sure you will have a seat.
(For me, I only reserved my seat in advance for 1 day if it's not during Korea peak period.)


Update as at August 1, 2017

You can book your ticket in advance for 1 month on KORAIL website
at 'My Reservation' or at any KORAIL stations.


Train tickets purchased online can be printed from home or picked up from the station.


To board a train, you need to bring your KORAIL Pass, passport,
and train ticket with a confirmed seat.



If you miss that train you've reserved,
you can make a new one without paying anything more!
Just return the old ticket and they will reserve a new seat for you.


Enjoy your trip! 


Please do NOT take this out! 
ไม่อนุญาตให้นำออกจาก Blog นี้นะคะ 




You can follow me on my Facebook Page and Twitter.






You May Also Like

53 comments

  1. Hello! Just wanted to ask about the Saver Pass. Do you only get 1 KR pass for the entire group? Do you have to show your companions' passport when claiming the KR pass? Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello!
      Yes, you will only receive 1 KR Pass per group.
      You will have to show all of your companions' passports when claiming it at the counter.

      Delete
    2. Got it! One last question please :) Do you also need to show all passports when booking tickets for the group?

      Delete
    3. No, you don't need to. Just show your KR Pass at the counter.

      Delete
    4. thank you so much! great blog you have here on korea. i'm from the philippines, and a big fan of korea as well. my upcoming trip will be my 9th visit, but it's the first time i'll be riding on the ktx and going to busan. so excited! anyway thanks again and more power :)

      Delete
    5. I'm glad to know that my blog is useful and help you plan your trip.
      Nice to meet you! You visit Korea so often.
      Busan is a great city. I want to go to Busan again.
      There are still many places that I want to visit.
      KTX is really convenient and comfortable for taking a long trip.
      There is also free WiFi.

      Feel free to ask me anything!
      Enjoy your trip! ^^

      Delete
  2. Hi, I'll visit Korea in Sept. Do you know, if we could exchange the e-ticket for KTX 3 day pass in any KTX station? I'll arrive Busan and directly take bus to Gyeongju. I hope to redeem the KTX pass the next day in Singyeongju Station. Is it possible?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi! You can exchange KR pass at Busan station.
      I am not sure for Singyeongju Station since KORAIL website wrote as

      "You can exchange the voucher with a KORAIL PASS at the main stations or at every station office in Korea."

      KTO website:

      Exchanging ticket sales

      - Incheon Airport Railroad Information Center: 09:00-21:30 (open all year round)
      - Seoul Station: 09:00-18:00 (open on weekdays / closed on weekends & holidays)
      - Busan Station: 09:00-18:00 (open on weekdays / closed on weekends & holidays)


      It would be great if you exchange it at Busan station.
      I don't know whether they refer Singyeongju Station as "main station".

      You can redeem it before the day you would like to use.
      Just tell the officer which date do you want to start using your KR Pass.

      From my experience, I redeemed at Incheon Airport.

      Delete
  3. Hi!I'm Mashi & i'll be going to Korea this April. I would like to know can we pay in cash if we use others credit card (she/he is not in the trip) when making reservation?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm not sure since I used my own credit card.
      However I have read on AREX blog that you can pay in cash instead and they will void your credit card transaction.
      Otherwise, you can buy KR Pass by cash without online reservation at Incheon Int'l Airport Station and Travel Center.

      It would be great if you can let me know whether you succeed in paying in cash without bringing the credit card.
      Seems there are many people having the same case as you.

      Delete
    2. Hi there, just to update you with my recent experience in buying KR pass..
      Fyi, we can't pay by cash...however..if you bring & activate your debit card for overseas transaction, the AREX staff can help you rebooking new KR pass & cancelling the previous booking...hope this help...

      Delete
    3. Thank you for sharing useful infomation, Mashi ! Your contribution will help others a lot! ^^

      Delete
  4. Hi, is it that if I buy this 1 day KR pass, I need not buy return trip ticket? Thanks a lot!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. KR Pass provides you unlimited rides for any korail train. If you buy 1-Day pass, you can take trains as many as you can within one day. However, you need to use your pass to book train tickets for every trip you would like to take.

      Delete
  5. Hi

    Is the credit card swiped when claiming the KR pass?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. From my experience, they did not swiped my credit card. They just checked that it's the same card I used when I made a reservation on the website.

      Delete
  6. Hey, im goin to visit Seoul on April. Me and 3 of my friends planning to go to busan for 2 days. So if we buy the 2 days flexi, we can choose the time we want right?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. With Flexible 2 Day Pass, you can choose which date you want to use it which you can choose 2 days. If you you are going to Busan and going back within 2 days, I think this one is perfect for you.

      Have a nice trip!

      Delete
  7. hi! so i plan to buy the 5 day KR pass,
    can i use it going to busan from seoul via ktx?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, you can use it to take KTX train from Seoul to Busan. Just show your KR pass at the counter to issue a train ticket.

      Delete
    2. SO I CAN USE IT WITH KTX HIGH SPEED TRAINS TO BUSAN?

      Delete
    3. Yes, you can take various types of KORAIL's train. KTX is one of them.

      Delete
  8. Hi, I read the other blog stated that using korail pass, we can't booked the seat in advance, is that true? I am planning to go Seoul-Busan during weekend and I am afraid I will not get a seat since I read a few blogs saying that usualy it's quite crowded during weekend.

    Thanks in advance

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello,

      After you get your KR pass, you can use it to book the seat in advance 'at KORAIL counters' not their website. When I used it, I also booked my seat before the day I actually took the trains. I even suggest everyone to book in advance if they pass by any KORAIL station so you don't need to be hurry to arrive at the station for booking your seat. Sometimes there are long queues at the counters.


      Hope my suggestion will help you. If you have any experience about KORAIL pass or KTX you want to share, please feel free to come back and make a comment. I would love to read it.

      Have a great time!

      Delete
    2. Hello,
      Thanks for ur reply. I just wanna share my experience purchasing the korail pass.

      Like you said, I can exchange the pass in any korail stations so once I landed at Incheon, I exchange the pass and reserve the seat. It's not recommended to go during public holidays because all the tickets are mostly sold out.
      Like my case, my return trip from Ulsan to Seoul, I can't get the the time that I want but luckily I still can go back on the same day before my pass expired :))

      Delete
    3. By using KR Pass, we cannot make a reservation via website or until we arrive in Korea. As you have said the tickets are sold out fast during public holidays so better avoid during those periods.

      Glad to know you have a great experience with KTX and thank you for sharing with me!

      Delete
  9. Hi,
    Your blog is so informative! Can I ask you about booking the tickets in advance? Btw, your blog is the only place I've read about advance booking the tickets.
    I intend to book an advance ticket for an overnight train from Cheongnyangni to Jeongdongjin. Is it possible for me to book the ticket at Seoul Station 2 days before the departure? I need to do this as my itinerary is packed and I would not be arriving at Seoul until the actual night I need to depart from Cheongnyangni. I hope my question is not vague. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello,

      Yes, you can book your ticket up to 1 month in advance. If your plan is so packed, you should better make a reservation in advance to make sure you have a seat for that time. As I have said in this post, I also booked my tickets in advance too.

      Thank you for visiting my blog. This post is based on my experience using train in Korea so I'm glad you find it useful. Hope you will have a great time in your trip. If you have more tip or suggestion about Korea, please feel free to share with me.

      Delete
    2. Thank you so much for the reply. I have managed to book my tickets for my upcoming trip!
      One thing I have noticed is in the pop-up window for train stations in the "Booking Online" page, Jeongdongjin is not included in the table. I have to key in the name and click on "Inquiry" in order to look for train times and book. I wonder why.

      Delete
    3. About Jeongdongjin, it does not show up on the pop-up window because I think they only show the stations people often use or the important ones. You can click on each alphabet to find more stations. I found Jeongdongjin in J tab.

      Delete
    4. ahh, that's why. Now I know. Thank you!:)

      Delete
    5. Hi,

      regarding cancellation of prebooked KTX tickets. Let's say I have arrived at Seoul at a later time. Can I cancel my 9.00am ticket and use my KR pass to book a later KTX to Busan?
      Because I have read the previously we need to wait for the precooked ticket to "expire" before booking a new one from the same departure point?

      And vice versa, I reached Seoul later than my prebooked ticket, can I book a new one?

      Delete
    6. Hello,

      You have to cancel the ticket you don’t want to use before booking a new one. You might have to return your unwant ticket to the staff.

      Delete
    7. Thanks for your reply. You have been of great help!

      Delete
    8. You're welcome!
      Enjoy your trip!

      Delete
    9. Hi, a little update on my Korea trip.

      I have printed out my 3-Day KR Pass and reserved tickets after payment online.
      On actual day, I missed out on my Seoul-Busan KTX due to delayed arrival at Seoul. I just have to show my printed KR Pass and printed reserved ticket to the KTX counter at Incheon Airport, the counter staff is able to cancel and rebooked the next available KTX for me. Very convenient.

      Subsequently, on all my KTX and Mugunghwa train rides, I just have to board (correctly) on the platform and train carriages without the need to show my ticket while boarding. Train masters will vigilantly check occupied seats at every station. Hence, make sure you have your ticket with you. :)

      Hope this info is useful.

      Delete
    10. Thank you for sharing your experience with the new KR Pass. It is very useful information.

      Delete
  10. Hi, i've just come across your blog and I AM REALLY HAPPY TO KNOW THAT YOU'VE UPDATED THE NEW RULES FOR KORAIL PASS!

    u cant imagine how happy i am because i'm really confused with the new rules. this is well-written and well-informed how to buy and use it.

    THANK YOU SO MUCH!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello,

      I'm glad I was able to help you with this post. It would be great if you could come back to share your KR PASS experience with new rules here.

      Thank you for visiting my blog and commenting.
      Have a great time in Korea!

      Delete
    2. yes, sure! already bookmarked your blog. ^__^

      I would like to ask you a favor, please can you advice me on how to make the payment? >< seems like i cant get through the online payment where i'll direct to home page error together with this number 'WRTV08279EN'. I've tried call the customer service but to no avail. They didnt pick up the call.

      Or should i book it one week before departure date? I'll go to korea on 7th October.

      I am really sorry to bother you with this question. Thank youuu.

      Delete
    3. Hello,

      About your problem with payment, you might try to ask your credit card. It might need to be approved before using it to buy the pass. However; I did not have this problem when I made the reservation in the past so I don't know the real solution for it. Somes also suggested to call the customer sevice but they faced the same problem as you; seems they did not pick up the phone unless you're the lucky one. :(


      You can book KR Pass in advance for 90 days so I don't think it's the cause of your problem.

      Delete
    4. hai there,

      i just wanna update about my previous trip as what i've promised. Actually, there is nothing I can help, i guess. Sorry. ><

      For our trip, once we have made the payment, we should print or reissue the voucher but we didn't because we are really clueless how this thing work.

      So, we decided to print the website page where we thought that was 'the KR pass voucher' at first. Then, we went to travel centre at Incheon Airport and luckily the customer service lady gladly to help us. She explained we need to click 'reissue' button to print out the voucher. She offered to print out on our behalf and the charge was 1000 won. She also helped us in booking/reserve the train. All in all, we are glad she wanted to help us.

      That's our story. Anyway, i want to say THANK YOU once again in making this blog. *send u lots of love*

      Delete
    5. Thank you for coming back and sharing your experience with me.

      About printing the KR Pass, after you completely purchase the pass, there will be ‘Print’ button. However: if you don’t print it right then, you need to print by ‘Reissue’ button instead.

      Korean people are so nice! They always help us.

      Thank you for your love. *hug*

      If you need any help about Korea, please feel free to ask me. If I know the answer, I am willingly to help.

      Delete
  11. Hi. I have a question. I bought a KORAIL Pass Saver 1 day pass for me and friends going to Busan. I was able to purchase the KORAIL Pass online and reserved seats for Seoul to Busan. But the website won't allow me to reserve seats for Busan to Seoul. Why is that? Are we not guaranteed seats for the trip back to Seoul from Busan with the 1 day pass?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi,
      You should be able to book tickets as many as you want within your pass period unless the tickets are sold out. Could you try again or use other browser ?

      Delete
  12. Hi, we are a group of five, 2 of us age below 25 year old. Going to Seoul on Dec for one week holiday. We Planned to have one day trip to Busan and back to Seoul on the same day by KTX train.
    Can we use the 1 day pass for the round trip?
    Can I purchase 3 Saver pass and 2 Youth pass?
    After purchase the KR PASS, where can I book the reserved seat? Any website? How many days in advance can I book reserved seat ?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi,
      Yes,you can use 1 Day pass for your trip: 3 Saver and 2 Youth passes.
      For the other questions you've asked, please re-read my article again. Your answers are all in it already.

      Delete
  13. Hi IamNazza,

    I just reserved a pair of flexi-pass (saver) and i will be arriving at incheon on 27th Oct. I intend to travel to Busan on 27th Oct itself and to return to Seoul on the 30th Oct.

    For the flexi-pass (saver), am i right to say that i can only redeem the pass when i arrived in Korea and only reserve the seats on the same day itself? Because i intend to travel to Busan as early as possible (looking at the 11am slot), but i am worried that the seats might be reserved/sold out.

    Appreciate your reply soon! :)

    Regards,
    Kee

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello Kee,

      I'm not sure whether you made your KR Pass reservation via the old or new system. If you use the new system, you can book your ticket online right now at home.

      However, if you use the old one, you need to redeem your KR Pass voucher to the real one at Korail counter before making any seat reservations.

      Hope its help.

      Delete
  14. Hi there,
    I will be going from seoul to busan and back to seoul again on this early february.
    My concern is, with the new system, do we still need to redeem the voucher at the counter in incheon airport?
    And about the payment, is it possible to purchase the ticket on the spot at the korail counter in incheon by cash?
    Is there any possible way to purchased the ticket by cash without any credit card?

    Your help will be much appreciate it. Thanks in advance!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello,

      With the new system, you don't need to redeem the voucher at the counter anymore because it's not a voucher. It's the real KR Pass.

      About the payment, if you want to pay by cash, you need to purchase a KR PASS at overseas travel agencies.


      Hopefully my answer will help you.

      Delete
  15. Hi,
    I have reserved 2 days flexible saver KR pass for 4pax for travel on 15 Mar 18 from seoul to busan and 17 mar 18 from busan to seoul. After that, the system allows me to make a seat reservation on first class with top up of additionally 11,000 won for each pax per trip. Can the system allow to reserve for first class seats using flexible 2 days saver pass? Besides that, after the reservation on the first class seats, there is a tickets which have the seats/cars number which need to be printed out. Does it means that i do not need to exchange for the saver pass/ticket at the Korail booth?

    Appreciate your help. Thanks

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello,

      You can reserve the first class seats using KR Pass but you have to pay for the upgrade (additional 50% of fees).

      You have to print your KR PASS and the train tickets and then no need to exchange at the Korail counter.

      Hope my answer will help you.



      Delete

I would love to read your comments. Please share your experience with me. Be sure to check back again for the answer because I do make every effort to reply your comment. Every comment will be reviewed before they are published so it will take time to show up. You do not need to send the comment again. Thank you.

สามารถแสดงความคิดเห็นและแบ่งปันประสบการณ์ได้เลยนะคะ กรุณากลับมาเช็คคำตอบด้วยนะคะ เพราะตั้งใจตอบทุกคำถามจริงๆ คอมเมนต์ทุกอันจะผ่านการรีวิวก่อน ดังนั้นคอมเมนต์ของคุณจะไม่โชว์ในทันที ไม่ต้องส่งซ้ำนะคะ ขอบคุณค่ะ

Random Post

Useful Links

Recent Posts

Copyright © 2013 - 2024 IamNaZza. All rights reserved.