Korean Job Discussion Forums

[freebeerandchicken]

How long does the slow train from Seoul to Busan take? I believe its called the Mugungwha (??). Also is there much difference in price between this train and the KTX? Should I book a spot in advance? Where does it leave from? When does the latest train leave (for the slow train)?

I am thinking about taking the slow train down to Busan on a Friday night, as I work til 8pm on Fridays.. Then on Saturday late afternoon taking the ferry to Fukuoka for a few days.

Another question... If I were to take the slow train Seoul-Busan one way, and the KTX from Busan-Seoul one way on the way back, am I going to be paying more than I would buying a round-trip? (IE are return ticket prices the equivalent of 2 one way tickets?)

Thanks for any info you may possibly have.

[VanIslander]

the ktx bullet train is relatively CHEAP

but i've wondered how different it would be to take the other rail

if you're going to take the 3-hour hydrofoil to Japan afterwards, I recommend the ktx... unless you enjoy the travelling more than the arriving and have the extra time

[Ekuboko]

[freebeerandchicken]

Thanks for the helpful info!

My rough plan is to take the slow train on Friday night and then spend Saturday in Busan, checking out the beach and a bit of the town. I've never been there so I thought it might be worth it, even for a few good hours on the beach. Then I hope to catch the last ferry to Fukuoka on Saturday, which is at 3:30pm or somethin like that. I'm not doing a visa run so it doesn't matter much when I get to Fukuoka.

[mindmetoo]

Saemaul has more leg room but the one I rode I wasn't really impressed. It was kind of run down inside. If you're not watching every dime, KTX first class is not out of reach. Lots of leg room. Although it doesn't match the shinkansen midori class.

(Photo account is working crappy. Photos may or may not show up.)

KTX First Class:




Saemaul





Midori Shinkansen

[Ilsanman]

Do not ever take the Mugunghwa train all that way unless

a) you are travelling overnight

b) you can sleep through a nuclear war.

They sell 입석 tickets, meaning, a standing seat ticket. The hallways will be crowded with people who surely make the seated customers feel uncomfortable. They have no limit to how many they will sell, to my knowledge. I have seen the hallway so crowded, it took 10 minutes to get to the bathroom.

Then u have a grandmother/father who buys a standing seat, and stands next to you or someone until some poor sap who paid for a seat stands up and gives him/her the seat. Pathetic crap, really.

I would not take the Mugunghwa train any further than Daejeon.

[freebeerandchicken]

[Ekuboko]