There’s a new kid on the block in South Korea – the KTX-Cheongryong. The train launched in April 2024, promising to offer improvements on the previous models of South Korea’s high speed train, the ‘Korea Train Express’ operated by Korail.
Firstly, this new train is now the fastest in Korea, reaching speeds of up to 320 km/h (200 mph) and completing the trip from Seoul to Busan in as low as two hours and seventeen minutes, thanks to its lightweight aluminium body and its streamlined profile.
The name of this groundbreaking train in Korea has had some thought – “Cheong Ryong” is “Blue Dragon” in English and 2024 was the year of him in the Korean zodiac.
The train is very similar in design, inside and out, to the KTX-EUM that launched back in 2021 that was also built by Hyundai Rotem. A main difference between the two is the capacity with the KTX-Cheongryong having 515 seats per set, 35% higher than the KTX-EUM.
My last travel report in Korea featured the original KTX, the KTX-I, constructed towards the end of the 1990s and celebrating 25 years in service this year – so we can compare the oldest and the newest KTX train in Korea. It was the same trip that I took in June this year to experience both and it couldn’t have been more different. Unfortunately, despite the benefits the KTX-Cheongryong brings, in terms of the onboard experience it didn’t impress me.
I took the once-a-day KTX-Cheongryong from Seoul to Dongdaegu, en route to wonderful Gyeongju. Direct trains exist between Seoul and Gyeongju, but not operated by this new train that’s got South Korea excited – I wasn’t the only one taking pictures of the train on the platform and onboard.
Departure from Seoul Station
For a capital’s main railway station, Seoul meets expectations in terms of its size. It’s vast and simply getting from the street level to the platform can take a while – so do allow plenty of time. Within the station, there are numerous eateries, left luggage facilities and a ticket office.
Highlights in Seoul City
Modern skyscrapers and historic temples clash and dominate the skyline in South Korea’s capital, Seoul.
During my visit to Seoul, I experienced and recommend:
- Geunjeongjeon and Geunjeongmun Gate
- Changgyeonggung Palace
- Deoksugung Palace
- National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Deoksugung
- Deoksugung Doldamgil (Stone Wall Road)
Onboard the KTX-Cheongryong
Korail and Hyundai Rotem have gone completely back to the drawing board when designing the new trains for the country. These are completely differently to their original KTX-I – and this isn’t a wholly a good thing in my opinion. There are particular onboard facilities that the KTX-I have that are missing on these more modern versions and new features that disappoint.
First impressions of the KTX-Cheongryong on the platform is its aeroplane like appearance with the windows – one per each row of seats similar to the Shinakansen ‘bullet train’ in Japan.
Let’s dive into the two classes of accommodation on offer on the KTX-Cheongryong.
Superior / Business / First Class Accommodation
The accommodation with an identity crisis is the KTX-Cheongryong’s most premium class. Depending where you look, the KTX-Cheongryong offers Superior, Business or First Class accommodation. There are only two types of accommodation onboard and this one is an upgrade to the Economy Class.
The seating in, let’s call it Superior Class (though I think calling it a fourth name ‘Economy Plus’ would be more appropriate!) as that is displayed in sticker form in the carriage, is in a 2+2 configuration which is the same as Economy Class. This accommodation is available in one carriage at the front of the train and one at the rear. The seating is slightly different between the classes with the most notable difference between Economy and Superior Class being the personal screens behind each seat in Superior Class – again another nod to the airlines.
In all honesty, this is not what you would expect for a train that launched in 2024 where most passengers bring their own devices that can do a whole lot more than those provided. The slightly clunky system offered MSN, the Korea Times newspaper, Google, YouTube and the Korail website. It was possible to browse Rail-Away.com via Google, so not all that bad perhaps!
Superior Class accommodation was full on the day I travelled and I only witnessed a few people using their provided screens.
Otherwise, the seats were comfortable enough and the legroom improved to previous KTX models. As a six foot one inch person, I did find that, despite the legroom, the seat was too close to the ground so I couldn’t actually stretch out at all.
Unfortunately, having really enjoyed First Class the KTX-I, where seating was in an improved 2+1 configuration, the new KTX-Cheongryong was a disappointment for me. The KTX-I continues to offer a dedicated host, who provides a snack on departure, free books in Korean and a vending machine offering free water bottles. None of this was offered on the KTX-Cheongryong.
Food and drink wise on the KTX-Cheongryong, there are paid-for vending machines for drinks only for any passenger on the train between Economy and Superior Class.
Disappointingly, the only difference I could see between Economy Class and Superior Class were the screens, hence why it should really be called Economy Plus.
On a positive note the ride of the new train was very smooth and the increased speed didn’t result in a compromised ride compared to the KTX-I. There was also power sockets available at every seat including an EU plug, USB A and C charges, in addition to wireless charging. It was probably the most advanced train for device charging options!
There was also a radio system, though I didn’t have any compatible headphones to try it but it did appear to be working.
Economy Class Accommodation
Unlike the KTX-I, the launch of the KTX-Cheongryong has introduced a reduced differential between the Economy Class and Superior Class. In Economy, the seats are in the same 2+2 configuration. These don’t feature seat back TVs, but there is the same array of charging facilities and decent legroom.
Onboard Catering
As mentioned, the KTX-Cheongryong offers a vending machine for all customers. This is paid-for and only included drinks – similarly to other KTX trains so do plan to bring some food if you’re going to miss this.
Scenery
The high-speed Gyeongbu line is scenic in parts. See my YouTube video from my KTX-I review below of the key scenic moments of the trip.
Arrival at Dongdaegu Station
So I could sample this new train en-route to a day trip to Gyeongju, we needed to change trains here at Dongdaegu. This didn’t give us time to take any pictures unfortunately of the station, though I can report that facilities include a staffed ticket office, ticket machines and food and drink outlets.
The KTX-Cheongryong train continued to Busan – Korea’s secondary city, which I covered in my previous travel report. Facilities are aplenty in Busan station which includes luggage lockers, a staffed ticket office, ticket machines and a whole host of cafés and fast food outlets.
Highlights in Busan City
The city offers a variety of touristic sites from a market to beaches to temples.
During my visit to Busan, I experienced and recommend:
- Hiking (or take the bus) up to Gamcheon Culture Village
- Visiting the Gamcheon Culture Village’s Buddhist Temple offering scenic views of the city
Booking and Fares
A trip on the KTX-I is cheap by western standards, helped by favourable currency exchange rates to the Korean Won.
Tourists can also take advantage of the excellent Korail Pass, purchasing from the official Korail website, providing unlimited travel and two reservations per day for different durations.
The Korail Pass is valid for Standard Class by default, however, the included reservations can be upgraded to First Class for a nominal fee which is completely worth it. I ended up paying approximately $8.75 / £6.80 / €8,00 to upgrade this trip per person on top of my Korail Pass. If the journey involves multiple trains this counts as one reservation as long as it’s booked in one go.
| Pass Type | Individual Price | Youth Price | Child Price | Group Price (2-5 people, per person) |
| 2 day select pass | 131,000 KRW / $96.50 | 105,000 KRW / $77.30 | 66,000 KRW / $48.60 | 121,000 KRW / $89.10 |
| 3 consecutive days pass | 165,000 KRW / $121.50 | 132,000 KRW / $97.20 | 83,000 KRW / $61.10 | 155,000 KRW / $114.10 |
| 4 day select pass | 234,000 KRW / $172.30 | 187,000 KRW / $137.70 | 117,000 KRW / $86.10 | 224,000 KRW / $164.90 |
| 5 consecutive days pass | 244,000 KRW / $179.60 | 195,000 KRW / $143.60 | 122,000 KRW / $89.80 | 234,000 KRW / $172.30 |
Prices correct as of 2nd August 2024
Otherwise, the point-to-point KTX fares won’t break the bank, designed to be priced between conventional rail and airline tickets. Fares do vary on a train-by-train basis hinting at some revenue/demand management going on, but don’t vary as much as rail operators’ fares do on long distance trains in western Europe.
Tickets can be booked at letskorail.com. Trains are marked that are operated by the new KTX-Cheongryong. A train marked as “KTX” is the KTX-I type that I reviewed previously.
| Journey Leg | Superior Class (Reservation included) | Economy Class (Reservation included) | Standing Ticket (No reservation, Standard Class) |
| Seoul to Busan | 71,800 KRW / $51.00 | 59,800 KRW / $43.00 | 50,800 KRW / $36.00 |
| Seoul to Dongdaegu | 52,200 KRW / $37.00 | 43,500 KRW / $31.00 | 37,000 KRW / $26.00 |
Prices correct as of 29th November 2024
Plan Your European Rail Trip for Just £29*
(approx. €33 / $34)
Your custom European rail itinerary – expertly planned, ready to book and delivered within 72 hours.
Planning a multi-city train trip can be confusing and time-consuming. That’s where our Plan My Rail Trip service comes in. We research your route, compare ticket options, and show you how to book the cheapest and most efficient connections available at the time of research — checking both point-to-point tickets and Interrail / Eurail pass fares — so you don’t have to.
All for just £29* – no stress or hours spent researching.
Check out Plan My Rail Trip now at the Rail-Away Shop:
Please note: the above link takes you to the Rail-Away Buy Me A Coffee website where you can review options and, if you choose to, complete your purchase.
*Plan My Rail Trip permits 5 or less travel days and 4 or less stopover locations. Those requiring more will need to purchase the Plan My Rail Trip Plus option. Fares quoted are subject to availability and change. Rail-Away provides research and booking guidance only and does not sell tickets.
Conclusion
Having sampled the excellent KTX-I the day before, I was rather disappointed by the new KTX-Cheongryong. The train is brand new, but comfort and facilities have decreased in Superior Class compared to First Class on the original KTX-I. This has resulted in a minimal difference between the two classes of travel rendering Superior Class pointless in my opinion for this particular train. It’s a shame that Korail haven’t matched the onboard facilities at least to their own previous train to allow for some consistency.
Otherwise, the train itself offered a very smooth ride on the Gyeonbu line and offered plenty of device charging options and decent legroom throughout.
If I was to travel again on the KTX I would opt for the KTX-I or simply pay for Economy Class on the KTX-Cheongryong.
Have you taken a trip on the KTX or any trains in South Korea? What was your experience? Let me know in the comments section below.
This travel report was first published in November 2024.
See More from Rail-Away
Planning a European train trip?
Save hundreds on Interrail* with our expert guide!
Flexible rail passes have their perks—but they’re often pricier than buying individual tickets.
Download our FREE Simple Guide to Booking European Train Travel and discover how to effortlessly save hundreds of Euros* by booking like a local!
*For example:
- Save €209 on the advertised Interrail trip to Slovenia and Croatia itinerary by booking point-to-point tickets right up to the day of travel**—compared to using the recommended Interrail pass.
- Save €107 on the advertised Top 10 Cheapest Cities in Europe itinerary by booking two weeks in advance**—again, compared to the recommended Interrail pass.
- Four easy steps, including:
- Knowledge Is Power – learn the best places to go before you book
- Where would you like to go? – tailor your itinerary to your travel goals
- Research Connections & Prices – use our proven methods to find the best fares and booking sites
- Tickets & Reservations – understand what tickets and passes are available to you
Also:
- A comprehensive list of European rail operators
- 12 beautifully designed, easy-to-follow pages
- Downloadable to your phone, tablet, or computer
**dynamically priced fares according to demand can result in lower or higher fares, book early for the cheapest fares
What else is in store?
*Please note that further Expert Guides and Ready-Made Itineraries are in development and will be available soon.
Already have the password?
Enter the password from your welcome email at the link below to access the Club Rail-Away home page:
Any issues, please get in touch!
*savings calculated as of 8th June 2025 for published itinerary for example dates on Interrail/Eurail website by purchasing point-to-point fares instead of recommended pass for the specified itinerary. Slovenia/Croatia trip for €77.00 travelling on 9th June 2025 and Top 10 Cheapest Cities itinerary for €228.00 travelling on 22nd June 2025 onwards.
Share your thoughts
Please get in touch if you have any feedback on this travel report by liking and sharing your thoughts below in the comments section. Have you made a similar trip? Please do share your own experiences on the rails.
Excellent- thank you!
Thank you!
Great report, Cheers Clive
Thanks Clive!
Is ticket easy to get? We are travelling to Busan from Seoul in late October, on a Friday. We plan to try out Cheong-Ryong in the economy class. I have been told can only book tickets 1 month in advance.
Hello, you can purchase tickets at letskorail.com as per the tickets section. It’s fairly easy though the website a bit antiquated and fiddly. You can also buy at the station as long as there is availability left.