Jang Seob Yoon
Research expert covering South Korea
Public transport in South Korea - statistics and facts
South Korea has a sprawling network of public transport, encompassing buses, trains, and taxis. With the vast majority of the population living in urban areas, such mobility methods play a fundamental role in everyday life. Survey results found that a significant share of South Koreans use public transportation to commute, further underlining its importance as core infrastructure.
High-speed trains in South Korea
Various train stations across the country are connected via high-speed trains. The two companies operating such trains in South Korea are Korea Train Express (KTX) and Super Rapid Train (SRT), which are both owned by the public institution Korea Railroad Corporation (Korail). SRT was established in 2016 and operates from Suseo Station, while KTX runs from Seoul Station. These high-speed trains help commuters and visitors touring South Korea move between cities and provinces.What comes next for public transport networks in South Korea?
The rise of alternative mobility solutions such as car and bike sharing in South Korea could yet prove to be a disrupting factor for public transportation in the long term. Additionally, a series of high-profile nationwide protests carried out by the non-governmental organization (NGO) Solidarity Against Disability Discrimination (SADD) on transport networks have highlighted areas that could be improved for the industry overall. With the vast majority of survey respondents agreeing that accessibility could be better, it appears that public transport companies have a clear direction to move toward in the near future.
