KTX guide
KTX Refund Policy (Cancellations & Changes)
KTX refunds are mostly about timing. The closer you are to departure (or after departure), the higher the penalty tends to be. This page includes a tidy penalty table and practical rules to avoid surprises.
Refund/cancellation penalties can change, and special periods (holidays/peak windows) may have different rules. Always confirm against the official Korail sources before you cancel.
Official references: Let’s Korail penalty table (위약금안내) · Korail ticket/refund guidance (EN)
How refunds generally work
If you cancel before departure, you can usually process refunds through the same channel you used to buy (website/app/counter). After departure, refunds often become more restrictive and may require a station counter.
If you have not purchased yet, start with: /ktx/how-to-buy-tickets.
Cancellation penalty table (latest)
The table below is based on Korail’s published “위약금안내” penalty schedule. Use this as the canonical reference and link here from route pages.
| When you cancel | Penalty | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1 month → 2 days before departure | KRW 400 | May be reduced if refunded within 7 days of purchase (per Korail table). |
| 1 day before departure | 5% of fare | May be reduced if refunded within 7 days of purchase (per Korail table). |
| Day of departure → 3 hours before | 10% of fare | — |
| Within 3 hours → before departure | 20% of fare | — |
| Up to 20 min after departure | 30% of fare | Station counter only (per Korail table). |
| Up to 60 min after departure | 40% of fare | Station counter only (per Korail table). |
| Until arrival time | 70% of fare | Station counter only (per Korail table). |
| After arrival time | No refund | Per Korail table. |
- If your plans might change, cancel early.
- If you need to switch trains, treat it as “rebook first, then cancel” when possible.
- If you miss departure, go to a station counter quickly (the penalty rises fast).
Cancel vs change
In many real booking flows, “change” behaves like cancel the old ticket + buy a new one. This matters on high-demand routes where the alternative train can sell out.
On routes like Seoul → Busan, secure the new option first (if the channel allows it), then cancel.
How to cancel / refund
- Online purchase: sign in and look for “My Tickets / Reservations” and then refund/cancel.
- Counter purchase: refunds can typically be handled at a station counter (bring ticket/payment method).
- If you’re mixing up KTX vs SRT, read /compare/ktx-vs-srt (station choice changes everything).
Common mistakes
- Waiting until the last minute, then being surprised by penalties.
- Canceling first when the replacement train is close to sold out.
- Mixing up stations (Seoul Station vs Suseo Station) and having to rebook.