Growth in Foreign Railway Travelers in South Korea
South Korea has seen a significant increase in the number of foreign travelers using its railway services. According to recent reports, the number of foreigners utilizing the country’s rail network reached nearly 3 million during the first half of this year. This represents a near doubling compared to two years ago, showing a strong upward trend in international passenger traffic.
From January to June, a total of 85.09 million passengers traveled via South Korea’s railway system. Among these, 2.84 million were foreign visitors, making up approximately 3.3 percent of the total passengers. These figures come from SR, the operator of the SRT high-speed train service, and Korea Railroad Corp. (KORAIL), which manages KTX high-speed trains and regular train services.
The number of foreign passengers has shown consistent growth over the past few years. The first-half figure for 2025 increased by 13 percent compared to the same period in 2024, when 2.5 million foreign travelers used the railways. It also marked a substantial rise of 99 percent from the 1.43 million recorded in the first half of 2023.
To accommodate this growing demand, KORAIL has introduced several initiatives aimed at improving the experience for international travelers. Since July of last year, the company has operated a priority ticket counter specifically for foreign customers at Seoul Station. Additionally, an AI-based voice recognition translation program was implemented, offering services in 13 different languages to help overcome communication barriers.
In November, KORAIL further enhanced its services by revamping its multilingual website. This update allows foreign passengers to choose seats, arrange luggage delivery, and book rental car services more easily without language limitations. These changes have made it simpler for international visitors to navigate the railway system independently.
SRT, the operator of the high-speed SRT trains, also launched multilingual services on its mobile app in May. The app now supports ticket reservations and timetable searches in English, Chinese, and Japanese, catering to the needs of travelers from key markets.
If the current growth trend continues throughout the second half of the year, the total number of foreign railway passengers is expected to exceed 6 million in 2025. This would mark a significant increase from the 5.61 million recorded in 2024 and the 3.49 million in 2023.
These developments highlight South Korea’s efforts to make its railway system more accessible and user-friendly for international visitors. With continued investment in multilingual services and digital platforms, the country is positioning itself as a more attractive destination for travelers seeking convenient and efficient transportation options.
