Korean Job Discussion Forums

[tombirner]

I know a bit about this... there are two stations in Gwangju, prices are reasonable, it's more comfortable and quicker (at least considering I'd be dealing with Friday evening traffic) than the bus...

My questions are: is one train station closer to the bus terminal than the other? And how regularly do the trains leave? I show up at the bus terminal and trains leave seriously like every ten minutes... is it the same for a train? Anyone know how expensive (and how long it takes) for the fast train versus the slow one?

Much appreciated.

[waynehead]

On a Friday night you might have to book in advance, but probably not.

If you're not picky about which train you take (KTX v. Mugunhwa) then you don't have to worry, there will be one leaving soon no matter when you arrive.

[hogwonguy1979]

here is a link:

http://www.korail.com/en/pr/pr21100/w_pr21110.jsp

all trains go to yongsan station in seoul. gwangju station is closer to the bus terminal, the other station songjeong-ri is way out past the airport

[tombirner]

Hell, according that website, there isn't a single train going from Seoul to Gwangju.

Can anyone let me know how often or maybe even refer me to an online timetable for trains (preferably the lightning fast ones) from Gwangju to Seoul??

Or anyone know how often buses leave from Yeongwang?

[Smee]

The train website is a piece of shit, and I never use it. I can't figure out how people book their tickets that way . . . each time I've tried to use it it seems like I have to go through and check hour by hour by hour for availability, rather than just getting a general timetable. *beep* that shit with this fucked up swear filter.

Anyway, buses leave from Yeonggwang to Seoul about once an hour. You can get a time table here: http://www.kobus.co.kr/web/index.jsp There's an English option, but it's broken right now.

Hopefully you can navigate Korean sites. If you set the departure time for 00:00---make sure it's for the next day, not today, or it won't work---you can get a schedule.

[tombirner]

Thanks. That was helpful.

I'm worried about the traffic, though. I'll be heading up on Friday afternoon. Can anyone tell me how often the really fast (KFX or whatever) train leaves, or what time it leaves, either from Gwangju station or the other one? What does it cost and how long does it take?

[Smee]

I checked out the korail website. Much more user-friendly than that damn "borata," or whatever it was before.

On the korail website --- www.korail.co.kr ---- click the first tab (승차권 예매) and the first tab under it (승차권예약) and you can put in 광주 and 서울 and get a timetable there. On the first drop-down menu on the right, choose KTX.

Looks like the ones on Friday afternoon / evening from Gwangju to Yongsan are: 3:50, 5:40, 7:50, 9:00 pm. There are a few leaving from the other KTX stop in Gwangju. Looks to take just under 3 hours. Looks like there are three different room classifications, but I've never beeno n a train so I don't know the difference. The prices are: 53,800, 38,400, and 36,500.

But if you're a white person, your dumb ass can't reserve tickets online. You'll have to go in person and buy them.

[tombirner]

Damn... I heard the train was about the same price as the bus, not 15,000 more. I guess they meant the regular train.

Looks like I'm taking the bus...

Oh, and that link isn't working for me. Blast.

[Smee]

sorry, typo: www.korail.go.kr

the other types of trains are a little cheaper, but will take pretty much as longa s the bus.