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China Has Ruined Bullet Trains for Us… South Korea’s KTX
South Korea KTX vs China Bullet Trains: Seoul to Busan
We’ve travelled across China experiencing some of the world’s fastest and most impressive high-speed trains… so how does South Korea’s famous KTX compare?
In this video, we take the KTX from Seoul to Busan and put South Korea’s bullet train experience to the test after everything we experienced on...
We’ve travelled across China experiencing some of the world’s fastest and most impressive high-speed trains… so how does South Korea’s famous KTX compare?
In this video, we take the KTX from Seoul to Busan and put South Korea’s bullet train experience to the test after everything we experienced on China’s incredible high-speed rail network.
August 2026 | Vlog 633 | Busan, South Korea
Road to Every Province in China: 22/34 so far
China’s high-speed rail network sets the bar incredibly high, so when the chance came to ride South Korea’s KTX, there was only one way to find out. From Seoul to Busan, this vlog puts the famous bullet train to the test after weeks of racing across China on some of the world’s fastest trains. Expect a fun side-by-side comparison of comfort, speed, and overall experience — plus a nod to their ongoing mission to visit every province in China, now 22 down and counting. Will Korea’s KTX impress? Watch the journey unfold.
We’ve travelled across China experiencing some of the world’s fastest and most impressive high-speed trains… so how does South Korea’s famous KTX compare?
In this video, we take the KTX from Seoul to Busan and put South Korea’s bullet train experience to the test after everything we experienced on China’s incredible high-speed rail network.
August 2026 | Vlog 633 | Busan, South Korea
Road to Every Province in China: 22/34 so far
Reanne and Ben leave Seoul for Busan on the KTX in second class. They find the departure information and boarding gate, buy snacks at the station, and use their booking details to locate their coach and seats. On board, they comment on the carriage, legroom, luggage space and quiet ride. They cannot find an operating vending machine and advise bringing snacks. They say their 325-kilometre journey cost £33 in second class and took about two and a half hours; they compare this with a similar Chongqing-to-Chengdu trip in China. In Busan, they consider a metro ride of about an hour and a taxi of about 40 minutes to reach their hotel area, then visit a nearby street market and bars. The comparisons and opinions are the creators’ own experiences.
Reanne and Ben travel from Seoul to Busan on a second-class KTX after taking high-speed trains across China. They describe finding their platform, boarding with a QR booking, the quiet and clean carriage, and the lack of usable food vending machines. They compare the 325-kilometre ride, which took two and a half hours, and its fare with a similar-length journey in China. After arriving, they weigh a metro trip against a taxi, then head toward their hotel near the beach and explore a street market and local bars. Their comments about the train, prices and city are personal observations from this trip.
Reanne and Ben take second class from Seoul to Busan on the KTX, compare its fare and travel time with China, then explore Busan by metro.
Seoul to Busan KTX Train: Second-Class Journey
2:32 Check the departure board for both the KTX train number and its time. The hosts initially struggled to match their 12:58 departure with the screen, then used the listed train number and route signs to confirm where to go.
4:44 If you want food before boarding, the hosts found several station shops, including fast-food outlets and a convenience store. They also noticed very limited seating when the station was busy, so do not count on finding an empty seat while you wait.
11:22 The hosts saw their gate appear about 15 minutes before departure and recommend arriving at the station early. They booked through Trip.com and used the coach and seat details in their booking to find their place on the train.
14:37 For this KTX trip, the hosts travelled in second class because first class was fully booked. They found the seat area had a table and space for luggage, though they described the carriage as older than some trains they had used in China.
24:12 Bring snacks for the ride. The hosts searched several carriages for a vending machine and found one that was empty, so they could not rely on buying food or drinks on board.
25:18 Compare the fare and journey time before choosing a train class. The hosts paid £33 for second class on the 325-kilometre Seoul-to-Busan trip, said first class was £50, and reported a journey time of about two and a half hours.
28:27 At Busan Station, follow the signs for metro, bus, city tour or taxi. The hosts compared a metro route of about an hour with two line changes and a taxi ride of around 40 minutes before choosing how to reach their hotel.
28:54 Have a backup payment card. The hosts said their Mastercard worked less reliably than their Visa, and their usual travel card did not work for one transaction, so they transferred money to another card.
31:16 Keep some cash available for the Busan metro ticket machine they used: it displayed cash-only payment. The hosts paid with cash and coins, and found the machine quicker to use than the one they had encountered in Seoul.
2:32 Check the departure board for both the KTX train number and its time. The hosts initially struggled to match their 12:58 departure with the screen, then used the listed train number and route signs to confirm where to go.
4:44 If you want food before boarding, the hosts found several station shops, including fast-food outlets and a convenience store. They also noticed very limited seating when the station was busy, so do not count on finding an empty seat while you wait.
11:22 The hosts saw their gate appear about 15 minutes before departure and recommend arriving at the station early. They booked through Trip.com and used the coach and seat details in their booking to find their place on the train.
14:37 For this KTX trip, the hosts travelled in second class because first class was fully booked. They found the seat area had a table and space for luggage, though they described the carriage as older than some trains they had used in China.
24:12 Bring snacks for the ride. The hosts searched several carriages for a vending machine and found one that was empty, so they could not rely on buying food or drinks on board.
25:18 Compare the fare and journey time before choosing a train class. The hosts paid £33 for second class on the 325-kilometre Seoul-to-Busan trip, said first class was £50, and reported a journey time of about two and a half hours.
28:27 At Busan Station, follow the signs for metro, bus, city tour or taxi. The hosts compared a metro route of about an hour with two line changes and a taxi ride of around 40 minutes before choosing how to reach their hotel.
28:54 Have a backup payment card. The hosts said their Mastercard worked less reliably than their Visa, and their usual travel card did not work for one transaction, so they transferred money to another card.
31:16 Keep some cash available for the Busan metro ticket machine they used: it displayed cash-only payment. The hosts paid with cash and coins, and found the machine quicker to use than the one they had encountered in Seoul.
0:28 Starting in Seoul for Busan
2:12 Finding the KTX departure
4:44 Shops and snacks at Seoul Station
11:22 Finding the gate and seats
14:37 First impressions of second class
21:38 Train toilets and vending machines
25:18 KTX fare and journey time
26:00 Arriving in Busan
28:27 Choosing transport to the hotel
33:11 Reaching the hotel area
39:47 Exploring the street market
48:08 Planning a day in Busan
0:28 Starting in Seoul for Busan
2:12 Finding the KTX departure
4:44 Shops and snacks at Seoul Station
11:22 Finding the gate and seats
14:37 First impressions of second class
21:38 Train toilets and vending machines
25:18 KTX fare and journey time
26:00 Arriving in Busan
28:27 Choosing transport to the hotel
33:11 Reaching the hotel area
39:47 Exploring the street market
48:08 Planning a day in Busan
How long did the KTX trip from Seoul to Busan take?
The hosts said their trip took about two and a half hours.
How much did the hosts pay for second-class KTX tickets?
They said the 325-kilometre trip cost £33 per second-class ticket; they quoted £50 for first class.
Could they buy food on the KTX?
They found a vending machine, but it was empty. They recommend bringing snacks.
How did they plan to get from Busan Station to their hotel?
They compared a metro route taking about an hour with two line changes against a taxi taking about 40 minutes. They quoted about £1 per person for the metro and £10 for the taxi.
What payment issue did they encounter on the Busan metro?
The ticket machine they used was cash-only, so they paid with cash and coins.
