Korean Job Discussion Forums

[SweetLou]

Does anyone know if it's possible for foreigners to get a KORAIL card? I was at Seoul Station the other day and it looks as if, with this card, one can get like 20% or something off of the regular rates of the train. The sign is in Korean, which I haven't been studying long enough to completely understand, so I couldn't quite figure it out.

I take a KTX between Seoul and Busan almost every weekend, so this would be something that could save me quite a bit of cash (shelling out W45,000 a pop for the KTX isn't the most fun), even if I have to pay money up front to get the card.

This is different than the Barota card I read about while doing a search on here, right?

Thanks,

-SL

[diver]

Lou,

I am not sure if it is the Barota card (I have one...no 20% discount) or not. My girlfriend has a ticket that gives her a pretty big discount though that is different from the Barota. She pays some kind of fee up front, then gets to use it for a certain amoubnt of time, or trips, whichever comes first. I'll get some more details from here when I can. PM me.

[indytrucks]

Getting a Barota card is pretty straightforward. All you need is your immigration card. Go to the station, fill out a form, present your card. Easy.

The Barota website is gold. I always book my train tickets through it.

[diver]

Okay, here's the scoop.

My girlfriend has a KORAIL 'Business Card' (her words). She paid 70,000 won for it. You get up to a 30% discount during the week, and around 10% on weekends. You can use it 40 times or for 6 months, whichever comes first.

[Ekuboko]

Diver, I don't know how long ago your girlfriend got her card so...

In around October last year I took my completed appl form for Korail card into Seoul Station. I was told that they were changing the membership system (ie KTX and other trains no longer 'separate' memberships) and that I had to apply for an affiliated credit card. The Korail clerk just transferred the impt info from the old appl form to the new one...

Well I didn't get a credit card but I got what I wanted.
The card you want is now called a Korail/KTX Family Card; after receiving it I paid 7000won (online) (membership/card activation I guess)

If you reserve your tickets in advance via the barota.com site, you get a 5% discount on the price when you go in to pick up and pay. You also clock up points (depending on distance travelled I think) which you can use to buy tickets once you've collected at least 10000 (I think).
If you don't have reserved tickets and are buying train tickets, you should still give them your card so they key in your card number to get the points.

[ajuma]

Having a BAROTA card is great!!! I can reserve tickets on-line (in English!!! )...check schedules AND get a discount, plus "frequent rail miles".

I paid 20,000 for it, which is refundable if I return it.

I often reserve seats for my friends and give them my number. They just tell the ticket agent that they "forgot" their card and only have the number! It gives me the "frequent rail miles" without buying the ticket!

[snehulak]

What's the story with the Barota reservation site? I had my co-teacher call KTX to get me registered and the lady said that the English site has been discontinued. The only way to reserve online now is through qubi.com, only in Korean, of course.

Is this true or was the lady clueless?

[Ekuboko]

The lady was talking out her backside.

Of course the English Barota site is still working!
http://english.barota.com/