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Taking the KTX to festivals outside Seoul: booking, sold-out trains and the last train home

In festival season KTX trains sell out fast. Where foreign visitors can book, which cards work, the two-month booking window, what to do when trains are full, and getting back after a night event.

Facts checked Oct 21, 2026 · 4 min read

For festivals and shows outside Seoul, the KTX high-speed train is the easy way to get there. But during big festivals — lanterns, fireworks — trains sell out in both directions. Visitors posting on X said things like "trains to Jinju were sold out during the lantern festival, only standing tickets left" and "check how you'll get home before a night event".

Book on Korail's foreign-language site

Korean trains can be booked on the foreign-language site of Korail (Korea Railroad Corporation), in English, Japanese, Chinese (simplified and traditional) and more.

  • You can pay with a credit card issued outside Korea (Visa, Mastercard, JCB).
  • SRT is now KTX. According to SR's own notice, from 1 September 2026 SRT trains were merged into Korail's KTX, and trains to and from Suseo station (southern Seoul) are booked on the Korail+ app or the Korail website. SR's own language menu now sends English, Chinese and Japanese users to Korail's foreign-language site.
  • We could not confirm whether the Korean-market Korail+ app works without a Korean phone number, so the foreign-language site is the safe choice.

When tickets go on sale

According to news reports, since 1 October 2026 tickets go on sale two months before departure (it used to be one month), so you can lock in the train when you book your flight.

Some trains have their sale date announced separately. If the train you want is not showing yet, check Korail's notices.

KORAIL PASS is still sold

As of 21 October 2026, Korail's foreign-language site sells the KORAIL PASS for 2, 3, 4 or 5 days. Under Korail's passenger tariff, the pass is for foreigners only; Korean nationals cannot buy it.

The catch: a pass does not guarantee a seat. The tariff says you either get a seat reservation issued separately or use standing or free seats. On festival days, reserve your seats early even with a pass. First class costs an extra 50% of the first-class fee. Check prices on the official site.

If your train is sold out

  1. Standing or free seats: once seats are gone, some trains sell standing (입석) or free-seat (자유석) tickets. A 2019 Seoul city article explained free seats on weekdays and standing tickets on weekends and holidays, but the rules may have changed since. Be ready to stand for two or three hours.
  2. Change the time or the train: try one or two departures earlier or later, a route with a change, or regular trains such as ITX-Saemaeul and Mugunghwa.
  3. Search again closer to the day: refunded seats can come back on sale.

Plan B: express buses

If the KTX is full, there are express and intercity buses. The express bus booking site KOBUS switches to English, Chinese and Japanese, and the T-money intercity bus booking site has English, Japanese and Chinese pages.

Whether a foreign card goes through, you will see on the payment screen. If it does not, you can buy at the bus terminal counter.

Night events: buy the ticket home first

Fireworks and lanterns are at their best after dark. If you only head to the station when it ends, stations and trains are packed and you may miss the last one.

  • Buy your return ticket at the same time as the outbound one
  • Look up the last train in the foreign-language site's timetable before you go
  • Some festivals are spread over several sites (one visitor on X said the venues in Gwangju were scattered across the city). Allow time from the station to the venue and between venues
  • If it looks tight, plan to stay the night

On now and coming up

For map apps and getting to the venue, see Getting to events in Korea.

Sources

Tours, passes and tickets in Korea on Klook →Hotels in Seoul on Trip.com →Affiliate link

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