This year's Chuseok train ticket booking will see changes as it marks the first booking since the integration of KTX and SRT services.
According to Korail, ticket sales for the 2026 Chuseok holiday will begin on September 3. The tickets will be for trains operating from September 23 to 27.
The first thing to check during this booking period is whether you need to transition to an integrated railway membership.
Starting September 1, Korail will operate high-speed trains under a unified system. As a result, this year's Chuseok tickets will be available only to integrated railway members.
Members who are currently registered only with Korail will be automatically converted to integrated members without any additional steps. However, those who are members of both Korail and SR, or only with SR, will need to go through a separate process to transition to integrated membership.
The transition can be completed through the conversion page available on the Korail and SR apps and websites.
The Chuseok ticket booking schedule will vary based on the target users and routes.
On September 3 and 4, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., pre-booking will be available for people with disabilities, senior members aged 65 and older, pregnant women, and veterans eligible for transportation support.
On the 3rd, tickets for the Gyeongbu, Gyeongjeon, Donghae, Jungbu Inland, Gyeongbuk, Daegu, Chungbuk, and suburban lines will be available. On the 4th, tickets for the Honam, Jeolla, Jungang, Gangneung, Janghang, Yeongdong, Taebaek, Seohae, Gyeongchun, and Mokpo-Boseong lines can be booked.
For those unable to use the internet for pre-booking, a dedicated phone line for holiday ticket reservations will be available. Those eligible for pre-booking, excluding senior members, must complete user verification on the Korail website before booking.
General booking for all citizens will take place from September 7 to 11, daily from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.
On the 7th, tickets for all regular train routes, including ITX-Saemaul, ITX-Maum, and Mugunghwa, will be available. On the 8th, KTX tickets for Gyeongjeon, Gangneung, Donghae, Jungang, and Jungbu Inland lines can be booked. On the 9th, KTX tickets for Honam and Jeolla lines will be available. On the 10th, KTX tickets departing from or arriving at Suseo Station on the Gyeongbu, Gyeongjeon, Donghae, Honam, and Jeolla lines can be booked. Finally, on the 11th, KTX tickets for the Gyeongbu line will be available.
Even for the same route, the booking date may vary depending on the train and departure station, so users should check their schedules in advance.
Bookings can be made through the Korail+ mobile app and the holiday ticket booking page on the Korail website.
After successfully booking tickets, it is important to keep track of the payment deadlines.
Payments for Chuseok tickets will start at midnight on September 12. General booking tickets must be paid for by the 15th, while tickets for pre-booking for people with disabilities must be paid by the 18th. Tickets not paid for within the specified period will be automatically canceled.
This year's Chuseok falls on Friday, September 25. The official Chuseok holiday runs from the 24th to the 26th, and with Sunday the 27th included, the holiday extends over four days.
Korail will begin integrated high-speed train operations on September 1, merging the previously separate KTX and SRT services under the KTX name, while the existing SRT will be renamed KTX-Sancheon.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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