To book KTX and SRT trains in Korea after the 2026 merger, use one app: Korail+. Since September 1, 2026, former SRT trains from Suseo Station are sold as KTX, so a single search in Korail+ or on the Korail website shows departures from Seoul, Yongsan, and Suseo together. Since October 1, 2026, tickets open two months before the travel date.
Last checked: November 8, 2026 (KST, Korea Standard Time, UTC+9). Sources: Korea’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT), the government’s Korea.kr policy portal, Korail, and Korean news reports dated August to October 2026. Fares and refund rules can change, so confirm them in the app before you pay.
- What changed when KTX and SRT merged
- Which app should you use to book KTX and SRT?
- How to book KTX and SRT on Korail+, step by step
- When do KTX tickets go on sale?
- Do you need to switch your SRT membership?
- Booking as a foreign visitor
- Cancellation fees and changing a ticket
- Pre-booking checklist and common mistakes
- Official sources
- FAQ
What changed when KTX and SRT merged
Korea’s two high-speed rail operators, Korail (KTX) and SR Corporation (SRT), merged on September 1, 2026. All high-speed trains now run under the KTX name, booking moved to the Korail+ app, and KTX fares dropped by about 10% to match former SRT prices.
For about ten years, Korea had two separate high-speed rail brands. Korail ran KTX trains mainly from Seoul Station and Yongsan Station. SR Corporation ran SRT trains from Suseo Station in southeastern Seoul (Gangnam District), with its own website, app, and membership. Travelers often had to check two apps to find a seat on the same route.
Korea’s Fair Trade Commission approved the merger on August 2, 2026. The government had tested the change in stages: cross-operation (KTX trains at Suseo and SRT trains at Seoul Station) began in February 2026, and coupled KTX-SRT trains ran on a trial basis from May 2026. The full merger took effect on September 1, 2026.
Here is a summary of what the government announced for passengers. MOLIT says these service commitments apply for three years after the merger, with the government checking how they are carried out.
| Item | Before September 1, 2026 | After September 1, 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Train name | KTX (Korail) and SRT (SR) | All high-speed trains sold as KTX |
| Booking app | KorailTalk for KTX, SRT app for SRT | Korail+ (KorailTalk was updated and renamed on August 3, 2026) |
| KTX fare level | Seoul to Busan standard seat: 59,800 KRW | About 10% lower on average; Seoul to Busan: 54,400 KRW |
| Mileage on former SRT routes | No standing mileage program | 5% of the amount paid, same as KTX |
| Transfer discount at Suseo | Not available between operators | 30% off the regular (non-high-speed) train when bought together |
| Added seats | Not applicable | About 15,000 per weekday and 17,000 per weekend day nationwide |
How to read this table: KRW is the South Korean won, the national currency. The fare example comes from Korea.kr and covers a standard seat between Seoul and Busan. Fares on routes that SRT already served did not go down, because the change brought KTX prices down to the existing SRT level. MOLIT also said most of the added trains run on the busy Suseo corridor, where seat supply rises by about 30%.
Which app should you use to book KTX and SRT?
Use Korail+ for any high-speed train departing on or after September 1, 2026. It shows KTX trains from Seoul, Yongsan, and Suseo in one search. The Korail website also sells the same trains.
The rule that mattered most during the switch was the travel date, not the station. MOLIT published the split below in its August 2, 2026 announcement. Today, almost every trip falls in the last row, but the table explains why older guides look different.
| Travel date | KTX (Seoul, Yongsan) | SRT / Suseo trains |
|---|---|---|
| Through August 31, 2026 | Korail+ or the old KorailTalk app | SRT app |
| September 1, 2026 and later | Korail+ or the Korail website | Korail+ or the Korail website (sold as KTX) |
What about the old SRT app? MOLIT said in August 2026 that the old KorailTalk and SRT apps would keep their booking functions “for the time being” after September 1, and that the SRT app would only allow non-member booking, so mileage and discounts could be limited. One English-language visitor guide checked in October 2026 states that the old SRT app and website stopped on August 31. We could not confirm the current status of the old SRT app from an official notice, so the safe choice is to book in Korail+.
Merger timeline at a glance
- February 2026: KTX and SRT trains start trial cross-operation at Seoul and Suseo stations.
- May 2026: Coupled KTX-Sancheon and SRT trains run on a trial basis.
- August 2, 2026: The Fair Trade Commission approves the merger.
- August 3, 2026, 9:00 a.m. KST: Korail+ launches as an update to KorailTalk.
- August 5, 2026, 10:00 a.m. KST: Tickets for integrated trains from September 1 go on sale.
- September 1, 2026: SRT is folded into KTX.
- October 1, 2026: The booking window grows from one month to two months.
Timeline compiled from MOLIT, Korea.kr, and Korean news reports. Created for this guide.
How to book KTX and SRT on Korail+, step by step
Install or update Korail+, sign in, enter your departure and arrival stations and date, pick a train and seat, then pay in one screen. Show the ticket in the app when asked on board.
Korail+ is built on the old KorailTalk app. If you already had KorailTalk with automatic updates on, your phone may have switched to Korail+ on its own. New users download it from the App Store or Google Play. MOLIT says the redesign focused on fewer steps: you can change search conditions on the results screen, sort and filter trains, and apply coupons, mileage, and a payment method on a single payment page.
- Install or update the app. Search for Korail+ (코레일+) in your app store. The publisher is Korea Railroad Corporation.
- Sign in or create an account. Former Korail members keep their ID and password. Former SR-only members need an integrated account first (see the membership section below).
- Set your stations and date. In Seoul, try more than one departure station. A trip to Busan can leave from Seoul Station, Gwangmyeong, or Suseo, and all now show in one search.
- Use sort and filters. Sort by departure time or travel time, and filter out sold-out trains.
- Choose a seat. Pick standard or first class and use the seat map to choose window or aisle.
- Pay on one screen. Apply any coupon or mileage, then pay. A booking is not final until payment is complete.
- Check the ticket. Your ticket appears in the app. No paper ticket is needed for app bookings.
Station tip: Suseo Station is on Seoul Subway Line 3 and the Suin-Bundang Line. Seoul Station sits on Lines 1 and 4 and the airport railroad. If you book a Suseo departure by mistake while staying near Seoul Station, budget extra subway time.
When do KTX tickets go on sale?
Since October 1, 2026, regular KTX and other Korail tickets go on sale two months before the travel date, at 7:00 a.m. KST. Before that change, sales opened one month ahead.
MOLIT and Korail announced the longer window on September 20, 2026. The stated goal was to let travelers book trains around the same time they buy flights and hotels. The rule works by calendar date. For example, Korean media reported that tickets for December 31 trains opened on October 31 at 7:00 a.m.
Two exceptions are worth knowing:
- Holiday periods. Tickets for Chuseok (the autumn harvest holiday) and Seollal (Lunar New Year) are sold in special sales on dates Korail announces in advance. For Chuseok 2026, priority booking for older adults, people with disabilities, and other eligible groups ran on September 3 and 4, followed by general sales from September 7 to 11. Check Korail’s holiday notice instead of assuming the two-month rule.
- Sold-out trains. Seats come back when others cancel. Korean media report that many weekend tickets are released close to the deadline when the lowest refund fee ends, two days before departure.
Practical timing example (a general illustration, not a personal account): if you plan to travel on Saturday, January 30, 2027, sales should open at 7:00 a.m. KST on November 30, 2026, unless the date falls in a holiday sales period.
Do you need to switch your SRT membership?
It depends on which accounts you had. Korail-only members were moved over automatically. Anyone with an SR account must complete a conversion step to carry over SRT history, coupons, and benefits.
Korail and SR opened the integrated membership process on July 14, 2026. The government says it is needed to get full mileage and discount benefits in Korail+. The three cases are:
| If you had | What you need to do | What carries over |
|---|---|---|
| Korail account only | Nothing. You were converted automatically. Sign in to Korail+ with your existing ID and password. | Your Korail account as it was |
| Both Korail and SR accounts | Agree to transfer your SR records in the integrated member conversion menu | SRT purchase history and SRT discount coupons, once you agree |
| SR account only | Sign up for a new integrated membership | SR records after you complete the new sign-up |
Details about the conversion were posted on the SRT website (etk.srail.kr). MOLIT also said staff at major stations would help passengers who are not comfortable with apps. Have your phone with you for identity verification, because the process asks for your name, date of birth, and mobile number.
Booking as a foreign visitor
Foreign visitors can book the same trains through Korail+ or Korail’s foreign-language website. Both support several languages, and the government plans to add more languages and global payment options by the end of 2026.
The merger made things simpler for visitors. Before, SRT booking was a common trap, because SRT’s own app was mostly in Korean and many visitors went to the wrong Seoul station. Now Suseo departures appear in the same Korail search.
- Languages: MOLIT said Korail+ supports seven languages, carried over from KorailTalk. In September 2026, the government said Korail’s foreign-visitor web page would add French, German, and Mongolian to its seven languages, for ten by the end of 2026.
- Payment: SBS Biz reported that the government is building support for WeChat Pay and Alipay in addition to overseas cards such as Visa, Mastercard, and UnionPay. Check the payment options on the payment screen before you rely on one card.
- Korail Pass: Korail sells a rail pass for foreigners visiting Korea, separate from regular tickets. Korean citizens cannot use it. Read the eligibility rules on Korail’s pass page before you buy, especially if you live in Korea.
Cancellation fees and changing a ticket
Weekday tickets are free to cancel until three hours before departure. Weekend and holiday tickets carry a fee that grows as departure nears, from 400 KRW two days out to 10% on the day of travel and more at the last minute.
The figures below are as reported by Korean media in January and October 2026, describing Korail’s rules for regular periods. Korail counts Monday to Thursday as weekdays. Friday through Sunday and public holidays use the weekend rates. Holiday special-sale tickets can have higher fees.
| When you cancel | Weekday (Mon to Thu) | Weekend and holidays |
|---|---|---|
| Up to 2 days before departure | Free | 400 KRW |
| 1 day before departure | Free | 5% |
| Departure day, up to 3 hours before | Free | 10% |
| Within 3 hours of departure | 5% | 20% |
| Up to 20 minutes after departure | 15% | 30% |
| Up to 60 minutes after departure | 40% | 40% |
| After that, until arrival | 70% | 70% |
Worked example using the reported rates: a Friday evening Seoul to Busan ticket costs 54,400 KRW. Canceling two hours before departure means a 20% fee: 54,400 × 0.20 = 10,880 KRW lost.
Two ways to pay less, as reported by Maeil Shinmun in October 2026:
- Seven-day grace period. If you request a refund within seven days of payment (counting the payment day), the 400 KRW minimum weekend fee is waived.
- Change instead of cancel. On the same route, you can move to another train within seven days before or after the original date, once, without a fee, up to 30 minutes before departure. This change service was expanded in February 2026.
The government also listed eased cancellation rules, expanded delay compensation, and unreserved seating cars on the former SRT routes as merger benefits. It did not publish full figures for these in the sources we checked, so confirm them in the app.
Pre-booking checklist and common mistakes
Before you book, check four things: the app is Korail+, your account is converted, the departure station is right, and payment went through. Most failed bookings come from one of these.
KTX booking checklist (Korail+)
- Korail+ is installed or updated (not an old SRT app).
- You are signed in, and any old SR account is converted.
- You compared Seoul, Yongsan, Gwangmyeong, and Suseo departures.
- You know the sale date: two months ahead at 7:00 a.m. KST, or the holiday special-sale date.
- Payment is complete and the ticket shows in the app.
- You know your cancellation deadline, especially for Friday to Sunday travel.
Checklist created for this guide from the rules described above.
Common mistakes to avoid:
- Following an outdated guide. If a guide tells you to download KorailTalk, it now means Korail+. If it tells you to book SRT separately, that advice applies only to trains before September 1, 2026.
- Going to the wrong station. A train listed as KTX can still leave from Suseo. Read the departure station on your ticket.
- Reserving without paying. In holiday sales, unpaid reservations are canceled after the payment deadline.
- Using bots or repeated refresh tools. Korean media report tighter action against abnormal repeated access. Use the app’s official waitlist and seat search instead.
- Canceling a weekend ticket at the last minute. Changing the train is often cheaper than canceling and rebooking.
Need the latest fares, timetables, or notices? Check the Korail+ app or Korail’s official website before you travel, because the operator adjusts rules over time.
Official sources
- Korea.kr: KTX and SRT integration and the Korail+ app (August 18, 2026, Korean)
- Korea.kr: KTX booking opens two months ahead (November 2, 2026, Korean)
- MOLIT press release list (Korean)
- SRT website: integrated membership details (Korean)
- Korail: Korail Pass for foreign visitors
- Korail+ on the App Store (Korea)
- The Korea Times: Korea approves KORAIL-SR merger
- Financial News: KTX and SRT operated under unified KTX service from September 1
FAQ
Is SRT still running after the merger?
The trains and the Suseo routes still run, but the SRT brand ended on August 31, 2026. From September 1, 2026, those trains are sold as KTX. You can still board high-speed trains at Suseo, Dongtan, and Pyeongtaek Jije stations.
Can I book SRT trains on Korail+?
Yes. For travel on or after September 1, 2026, Korail+ and the Korail website sell trains from Suseo along with trains from Seoul and Yongsan. They appear as KTX in search results.
How far in advance can I book KTX tickets?
Since October 1, 2026, regular tickets go on sale two months before the travel date at 7:00 a.m. KST. Chuseok and Seollal tickets follow separate special-sale dates that Korail announces ahead of each holiday.
Did KTX fares go down after the merger?
Yes. KTX fares on former Korail routes dropped by about 10% on average to match SRT prices. Korea.kr gives the Seoul to Busan standard seat as an example: 59,800 KRW before and 54,400 KRW after. Fares on routes SRT already served did not change.
Can foreigners use the Korail+ app to book KTX?
Korail+ carries over KorailTalk’s seven-language support, and Korail also runs a foreign-visitor website. The government says it is adding more languages and payment options such as WeChat Pay and Alipay. If a card fails, try another card or the Korail website.