How to Buy KTX Tickets Online: Step-by-Step Guide

KTX bullet trains are a fast, scenic way to travel Korea, if you can survive buying the ticket.

My friends and I once had to sprint to the station to buy in person because the website glitched out. The end of that tale? We each lost 70 dollars in hotel cancellation fees because we couldn’t get there.

But none of that for you. I’m here to show you exactly how to buy KTX tickets online, step-by-step, with screenshots, refund tips, and a comparison of Korail vs Rail Ninja, so you can avoid tech fails and emergency runs to Seoul Station.

Of course, all this instructions are the most useful if you also leave yourself enough time to book before the trip. Trains are booked out MONTHS in advance for bigger national holidays, like Chuseok in early September.

If you’ve ever wondered how to book KTX tickets in advance or which website is safer to use, this guide will clear it all up!

Why You Should Buy KTX Tickets Online

To be completely honest, KTX trains fill up. If you’re planning to buy at the station on the day of, your chances of getting a seat are low, especially during holiday seasons.

There are two main websites that I like to use: Korail, the official website for Korean Inter-city trains, and Rail Ninja, which handles train tickets worldwide, including South Korea.

Please keep in mind that you can only book your tickets online a month before your departure date at the earliest, and 20 minutes before the train departs. Otherwise, you’ll have to buy them in person.

Method 1: How to Book KTX Tickets on Korail

First, let’s look at the more traditional option, Korail. I’ll show you how to buy your tickets, as well as how to cancel your booking and get a refund.

Step 1: Search for Train Schedules

When you type in www.letskorail.com, you’ll land on this homepage above. It should automatically redirect to the English landing page. But if not, find the language menu in the top right-hand corner.

Complete all the data below and hit “Inquiry” to pull up the train schedule. Always choose “Normal Type” for the first section. You can select your preferred type of train to filter out the other ones. If not, just leave that drop-down menu as is.

KTX is the bullet train, so it gets you places much faster, but at a slightly higher price. Here are the rough Seoul-Busan travel times for each type of train.

• KTX: 2 hours 15 minutes
• ITX: 4 hours 34 minutes
• Mugunghwa: 5 hours 22 minutes

If you’re not sure how to spell a city name, hit the magnifying glass icons (photos below), and a window will pop up with the option to browse cities countrywide by alphabetical order.

Step 2: Choose Train Types and Seat Class

Once you’ve entered the information and hit the inquiry button, you’ll come to the next page with the train schedule below. Note the color code for each type of train when selecting, so you don’t end up sitting on a train for 5 hours when you had planned for 2.

Click “Select” under either the First Class or Economy Class columns, then hit “Next” at the bottom. If you want to see the fares, click the magnifying glass in the far right column.

Step 3: Enter Your Information

Once you’re on the next page, enter your information and hit “I agree with the terms and conditions” in the bottom right-hand corner, then hit “Next.”

Remember that the information here must match your ID or you’ll be denied boarding!

After hitting “Next,” confirm all your personal information, train type, departure time, and destination again. Then, select your card type and hit “Next” again.

Step 4: Make the Secure Payment

After selecting your payment type, a secure payment window will pop up. First, select “Agree to all terms of service” at the top right-hand corner. Then enter your card information.

Just a heads up that for the 2 middle sections of your card number, an in-site security keypad will come up and you’ll have to use it to enter those 8 digits.

After entering your card information, you’ll come to a confirmation page (below) on that same window, so don’t close it just yet! Enter your email address where you’d like to receive your confirmation, then hit “Next,” and you should be set.

Step 5: Save or Print Your KTX Ticket

Below should be the last page you see after completing all the steps.

IMPORTANT: Please print the ticket before closing the page, or save it as a PDF to print later. You’ll need to show them the hard copy on the train, and you won’t see this QR code again in your confirmation email.

How to Cancel a KTX Ticket on Korail

This is much more straightforward than booking a ticket. Plus, since you’ve already gone through booking your ticket, this is going to be a cakewalk.

On www.letskorail.com, which you’ll also have the link to in your confirmation email, navigate to “Reissue/Refund” on the left-hand bar menu.

It’ll ask you for your name, the email address you entered for the booking, and your nationality. Hit “Inquiry” and your booking details will pop up.

If you have multiple tickets booked, select the one you’d like to cancel in the left column, and hit “Refund.”

Refund Fees and Conditions

Below are any cancellation fees if you don’t cancel far enough in advance.

Another point to note: If the train has departed, you’ll have to visit the ticket desk in person for a refund

Method 2: How to Buy KTX Tickets on Rail Ninja

From my experience, Rail Ninja glitches less, has a simpler user experience, but is less official.

I wouldn’t be surprised if you’ve used it before, since they work with ticketing systems worldwide. But let’s just say you haven’t, this section will walk you through buying KTX tickets using Rail Ninja!

Step 1: Search for Korean Trains

When you go to rail.ninja, you will see this landing page below. Mine redirects automatically to Korean trains, probably because I’ve only used it for KTX.

But just in case it doesn’t, you’ll select “Rest of World” from the top menu, and then “Korean Trains” from the drop-down. There’s no need to choose destinations just yet.

Once you’re on the Korean landing page, toggle to “One-Way” or “Round Trip.” If you’re buying round-trip tickets, enter your 2 travel dates, cities, and number of passengers, then hit “Search Trains.”

Step 2: Choose Your Train and Select Seats

On the next page, you’ll see the train schedule for your desired date.

Overall, the Rail Ninja schedule is definitely easier on the eyes than the Korail one. But be careful when checking the train types, as they’re not as clearly color-coded. I underlined each of them in bright green so you’d notice.

Pick the train type and time that work for you, then hit “Select Seats” in the right column.

Once you do, that specific train will expand with more details. Pick “Economy Class” or “First Class,” then hit “Continue.” If you’re buying round-trip tickets, you’ll select the trains and seats twice for both trips.

Step 3: Enter Passenger Details and Pay

After selecting your trains and seats, double-check your selections on the next page, then scroll down to enter your email and lead passenger information.

Once you’ve saved the passenger information, the payment will pop up below it. This is straightforward. Just enter your credit card information, check “Agree to terms & conditions,” and make the payment.

After confirming your payment, you’ll come to the confirmation page. Notice that the status says “Processing” next to your order ID in the banner up top.

It usually takes a few minutes, or sometimes a few hours, for them to issue your tickets. But at this point, you should have received an email confirmation that says your tickets are processing.

Step 4: Create a Password (Optional for Easier Access)

While you’re waiting for your tickets, scroll down and create a password for your future log-ins. I highly recommend doing this so you have more ways to access your tickets and past orders.

However, you can still access your current bookings through the confirmation emails.

Once you’ve created a password, notice this change in the top navigation menu. You now have a profile on the website, and you’ll be able to access your tickets directly from there.

To download your tickets without having to go to your email inbox, click “My Tickets.”

Step 5: Download Your Ticket From Rail Ninja

If your tickets are ready, you’ll see green buttons that say “Download Ticket” underneath each trip on the tickets page. Click them, and your tickets will automatically download as PDF files onto your device.

Once you’ve printed your tickets and put them in a safe place, or saved them onto files on your phone, you’re safe to sit back and relax until your travel date.

How to Cancel KTX Tickets on Rail Ninja

Canceling a ticket on Rail Ninja is just as straightforward as it is on Korail. First, you want to access your tickets page via logging in OR your itinerary page from the link in your confirmation email.

If you’re on the itinerary page, hit the golden “Tickets” button circled in the screenshot below. Select “Cancel” from the drop-down menu.

On the pop-up cancellation window, select the ticket(s) you’d like to cancel, check “Agree to terms and conditions,” then hit submit request.

After that, the pop-up window will disappear, and you should see that the green “Tickets Issued” status button has changed to the gold “Processing Refund.”

Please note that it can take 5-7 business days for the refund to hit your bank account.

Should You Get a Korail Pass Instead?

As you’ve seen in this article, a KTX ticket isn’t that cheap. Buying a Seoul-Busan round-trip will cost you about $150. This is where the Korail Pass (KR Pass) comes in as an excellent option if you plan to travel between cities a lot while in South Korea.

With the KR pass, you pay a one-time fee ranging from $95-$170 for unlimited train rides within a specified date range. There are three types of Korail Passes.

Saver Pass

Regular Passes are bought singly for one person’s use.

Saver Passes are bought together in a pack for 2-5 people. When buying a pack of Saver Passes, each person can get up to a 10,000 KRW ($7) discount.

Flexible Pass (a.k.a. Select Pass)

The flexible pass gives you unlimited KTX rides for 2 or 4 days within 10 days. The 2 or 4 days don’t have to be consecutive.

I’d say this is the most economical option for most travelers.

Consecutive Pass

The consecutive pass gives you unlimited KTX rides for 3 or 5 consecutive days. This would work best if you’re planning a road-trip style crawl past a handful of towns you’d like to spend a day in each.

More Helpful Travel Tips for South Korea

Most visa-free visitors to South Korea need a K-ETA in order to enter Korea. Check if you need one and apply about a week before you travel. This replaces the arrival form.

• Make sure you protect your trip with a travel insurance.
• Get this eSIM for local data without giving up your number.
• Must-have Apps: Papago AI Translator, Kakao Maps

Don’t forget to learn some important dos and don’ts in Korean culture, as well as some useful Korean phrases, before you arrive!

Still not done planning? Find all my guides on the South Korea Immersive Travel page!

Grab My South Korea E-Checklist

To make sure you don’t leave anything important out of your preparations, I’ve made a digital checklist to help you get ready. I leave 2 pages blank for you to customize your own checklist, too!

📌 Pin this for later

Sharing is caring!