Seoul to Busan

Check the timetable and fares of KTX bullet trains between Seoul and Busan at the official KORAIL booking website:
http://www.korail.com/en/rv/pr21100/w_pr21110.jsp</a>

Train schedules can be viewed up to 1 month in advance, so you'll need to wait for a couple of days to look it up for December 29. Take notice that KTX train nos. 3xx had better be avoided, since they deviate (in part) from the dedicated high-speed tracks in order to serve different destinations along the way. Journey time for Seoul-Busan usually comes around 2.5 hours, but varies depending on alternating stops of respective trains. Single fare on the 2nd class, KRW 57300, comes around USD 55 with the latest exchange rate.

To tell the truth, there's a plan in motion by KORAIL to operate KTX trains directly from Incheon Airport railway station to Busan and other destinations. This service is scheduled to commence from December 28. NEVERTHELESS, you're advised against completely relying on KORAIL's plan, because there have been numerous cases in the past that they end up delaying opening new lines or services due to 'technical problems.'

If KORAIL fails to meet their own 'KTX to/from ICN' timetable, you'll still need to take Airport Express train to Seoul Station and transfer to a KTX to Busan, just as it is currently being done.

Great and much appreciated advice Jake!!

Any experience of Korean long distance buses??

If you want to take a direct bus from ICN to Busan, it departs in every 2 hours. Refer to http://www.airport.kr/airport/traffic/bus/busList.iia?flag=E</a>, scroll down and find Busan near the bottom. No need to be alarmed by 'Via Songdo' route, Songdo is just an international business district relatively close to the airport, and only 12:30 or 16:30 buses call at Songdo Bus Stop. The rest are non-stop to Busan, journey time being 5 hours.

The downside of express bus to Busan is that Busan Bus Terminal is on the northern outskirt of the city, even though it's served by Line 1 metro. Trains, OTOH, take you all the way into Busan proper. It's the same bus terminal even if you come to Seoul first, and then catch an express bus from Seoul Express Bus Terminal. From Seoul, there's an option of going to Busan West (a secondary terminal in Busan, near Sasang area) instead, but again, this isn't quite central Busan either.

Seats will be comfortable nonetheless, all out of ICN and most out of Seoul will be of 'de-luxe' grade 28-seat buses. You'll make a 15-minute rest stop on your way to Busan.

I salute you Jake!!

Thanks a million sweetheart

Glad to be of help. :)

Trains and busses in Korea are great. You can also opt to stop at one or two places along the way to Busan, though the ride there isn't long at all.

Thanks Muteki

Hi Jake_Kim

Tried to PM you but couldn't. As I will be taking bus to Busan December 29th (holiday season) would I be best booking a seat in advance?

Thanks

It is practically impossible to purchase ICN bus tickets from overseas.
There is a legit website through which online booking for buses out of ICN is made, but it's solely for residents with very selective range of credit cards due to contractual issues.
It's rather hard to imagine those seats actually getting completely full, since understandably many people would have the urge to get to Busan as fast as possible by catching KTX instead. Still, it wouldn't hurt to draw up a Plan B just in case bus seats get sold out right in front of your eyes.