South Korea · High-speed · Scenic
The Gyeonggang line KTX leaves Seoul and Cheongnyangni and runs east through the Taebaek mountains to Gangneung on the East Sea coast, calling at Pyeongchang and Jinbu on the way. It opened in December 2017 for the PyeongChang Winter Olympics and turned what had been a long mountain drive into a trip of under two hours, making the ski resorts and the coast an easy day out from the capital.
Seoul → Gangneung
1h 55m
Photo: Rsa · CC BY-SA 3.0
Published primary route
Published end-to-end time
No verified figure published
Check the selected service before travel
Route & corridor
City-to-city high-speed corridor. The map, ordered calls and any engineering detail shown below come from the published route record.
The published route runs from Seoul to Gangneung via Cheongnyangni, Manjong, Pyeongchang, Jinbu.
Key stops
Seoul StationCheongnyangniManjongPyeongchangJinbuGangneung
Seoul Station
South Korea
Cheongnyangni
South Korea
Manjong
South Korea
Pyeongchang
South Korea
Jinbu
South Korea
Gangneung
South Korea
Why this connection
This is the KTX route with actual scenery. The line climbs away from the Han river valley into the mountains of Gangwon province, runs through long tunnels and high valleys around Pyeongchang, then drops to the sea at Gangneung, where you can walk from the station towards the beach and the coffee shops of Anmok. In winter it is a ski train; in summer it is the quickest escape from Seoul to the coast. It is the one high-speed line in Korea where people look out of the window.
Our current editorial assessment, for comparing journeys, a considered judgement, not a measurement.
More subjective
Not rated yet: value for money, food & drink, seat quality, onboard service, slow travel quality, romance, remoteness.
Step-free access and assistance are set out with the practical detail further down rather than reduced to a score.
Evidence on demand
Route, onboard, season, fit and booking detail remain available without interrupting the journey above. Unknowns stay visible.
1h 55m
The published route runs from Seoul to Gangneung via Cheongnyangni, Manjong, Pyeongchang, Jinbu.
Key stops
Seoul StationCheongnyangniManjongPyeongchangJinbuGangneung
Seoul Station
South Korea
Cheongnyangni
South Korea
Manjong
South Korea
Pyeongchang
South Korea
Jinbu
South Korea
Gangneung
South Korea
Jan: Scheduled year-round as a regular timetabled service.
These months show when the train runs, which is a service fact. How good each month is for the experience has not been rated yet, so no month is presented as better than another.
First-time rail travellers
Good fit
Frequent, easy to book and a straightforward first rail journey in the country.
Families
Good fit
Short enough, frequent enough or engaging enough to work with children.
You cannot just turn up
A reservation is required for this journey.
Not yet verified: typical price, rail pass validity. We leave these blank rather than guess.
This is the operator's own reservation entry point. Fares and availability are confirmed there, not here. Journey length: 1h 55m. Checked 12 Sep 2026 · Korail.
The detailed source record remains at the end of this guide. Review the evidence.
Your next step
Reserved seats are sold through the operator's site and app; winter weekends book up early.
Check availability with Korail (Korea Railroad Corporation) (opens in a new tab)This is the operator's own reservation entry point. Fares and availability are confirmed there, not here.
Far by Rail is a discovery guide, not a live timetable or booking service. Confirm times, fares and availability with the operator.
Continue exploring
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AI-generated editorial illustration by Rail Atlas
Journey information is reviewed against published material and maintained as sources change.
Last reviewed 12 Sep 2026.
Official sources
Checked 12 Sep 2026