When KTX tickets go on sale
Planning to take the KTX? Timing matters more than you might think.
Last checked:
-
KTX tickets open one month ahead
Travelers say KTX tickets go on sale one month before the travel date. Korail's official app is KORAIL+.
- Set a reminder for one month before your train date.
Official links
-
Booking KTX on Korail's global site: cards and sign-up
A third-party guide says Korail's foreign-language site (korail.com/global) lets you book without an account, using just an email and a number password. Its payment screen has an option for cards issued overseas. The Korean-language site and app need a Korean identity check for non-members.
Card brands
- Visa Works
- Mastercard Works
- Amex Being verified
- JCB Works
- UnionPay Being verified
- Alipay and WeChat Pay don't work yet. A September 2026 report says they're in development.
- New ticket machines at 148 stations take foreign credit cards (citing a Korail press release from 29 Dec 2025).
-
Express buses (kobus): foreign cards may not work
Sources disagree on whether kobus takes foreign cards. Plan for it not to work online, and have a backup.
Sources disagree. A Korea Herald report said non-members would be able to pay with foreign cards from August 2026. A travel blog quoting kobus notice no. 55 says that since 24 Feb 2026, non-members can only pay with Toss Pay or Naver Pay (checked in Sep 2026). We haven't confirmed which is true now.Card brands
- Visa Being verified
- Mastercard Being verified
- Amex Being verified
- JCB Being verified
- UnionPay Being verified