Transportation in South Korea

Transportation in South Korea is provided by extensive networks of railways, highways, bus routes, ferry services, and air routes that criss-cross the country.

Railways

South Korea has an excellent railroad network. The first railroad, which linked Seoul and Inch'on, was opened in September 1899. Other major lines were laid by the Japanese during the colonial period; these included lines originating in Mokpo, Masan, and Busan. These lines connected to Seoul and to Sinuiju in North Korea, where they were linked with the Trans-Siberian Railway. The railroad network was badly damaged during the Korean War, but it was later rebuilt and improved.

Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, the Korean National Railroad, a state-run corporation under the Ministry of Transportation, was in charge of all rails and continued electrifying heavily used tracks and laying additional tracks. As of 1987, the combined length of the country's railroad network was approximately 6,340 kilometers, including approximately 761.8 kilometers of doubletrack railroads and 1,023 kilometers of electric railroads. Suburban lines were electrified and connected to the Seoul subway system. Rolling stock included 459 diesel locomotives, 90 electric locomotives, 133 motor coaches, and 370 electric motor cars. In 1989 Ministry of Transportation and Construction announced that it was studying the possibility of constructing high-speed railway systems similar to those in Japan and France.

File:Old Korail logos.PNG

old KNR logos

Railroads in the 1980s were useful primarily in the transportation of freight, but they also were important for passenger traffic around Seoul and in the heavily-traveled corridor linking the capital with the southern port of Pusan. Although the railroad system grew little during the 1980s (there were already 5,600 kilometers of tracks in 1980), rail improvements—the increased electrification of tracks, replacement of older tracks, and the addition of rolling stock— allowed rail traffic to boom. Some of the busiest lines south of Seoul linking the capital with Pusan and Mokpo had three or four tracks. The 1980s also saw the introduction of high-speed trains connecting Seoul with Busan, Jeonju, Mokpo, and Gyeongju. The famous "Blue Train" (Saemaul-ho) between Seoul and Busan (via Daejeon and Daegu) took only four hours and fifty minutes and offered two classes of service, first class and special. In 1987 approximately 525 million passengers and 59.28 million metric tons were transported by the railroad system.

Railroad passenger in South Korea is on the decrease since 1990s. Despite continuous road construction, railways are still one of the primary means by which South Koreans travel over long distances within the country.

total: 6,240 km
standard gauge: 3,472 km 1.435-m gauge (1,361 km electrified) (2005)

The Korail (en) (ko) is the sole passenger railway operator.

Railway Lines

The principal railway line is the Gyeongbu Line (경부선), which connects the capital and largest city (Seoul) with the country's second largest city and largest seaport (Busan); the second is Honam Line (호남선), which branches off of the Gyeongbu Line at Daejeon, and ends at Gwangju or Mokpo. Here is a table of major railway lines in South Korea:

Tonghae Station, the last station of Jinhae Line.

Line	Name in Hangul	Major Stations Served	Operater
Gaya Line	가야선	Gaya	Korail
Bukjeonju Line	북전주선	Jeonju
Yeocheon Line	여천선	Yeocheon
Gyeongbu Line	경부선	Seoul, Daejeon, Dongdaegu, Busan
Gyeongui Line	경의선	Seoul, Paju
Seoul Gyowoi Line	서울교외선	Goyang, Yangju, Uijeongbu
Gyeongin Line	경인선	Guro, Bupyeong Incheon
Gyeongwon Line	경원선	Yongsan, Cheongnyangni, Uijeongbu, Soyosan, Sintanni
Gyeongchun Line	경춘선	Cheongnyangni, Chuncheon
Janghang Line	장항선	Cheonan, Janghang
Chungbuk Line	충북선	Jochiwon, Cheongju, Chungju, Bongyang
Honam Line	호남선	Seodaejeon, Iksan, Songjeongni, Naju, Mokpo
Jeolla Line	전라선	Iksan, Jeonju, Suncheon, Yeosu
Jungang Line	중앙선	Cheongnyangni, Wonju, Jecheon, Yeongju, Andong, Gyeongju
Gyeongbuk Line	경북선	Gimcheon, Yeongju
Yeongdong Line	영동선	Yeongju, Donghae, Gangneung
Taebaek Line	태백선	Jecheon, Taebaek
Donghae Nambu Line	동해남부선	Bujeon, Ulsan, Gyeongju, Pohang
Donghae Bukbu Line	동해북부선	Jejin
Gyeongjeon Line	경전선	Samnangjin, Masan, Jinju, Suncheon, Songjeongni
Jinhae Line	진해선	Jinhae
Jeongseon Line	정선선	Jeongseon
Mungyeong Line	문경선	Mungyeong
Gaun Line	가은선	Gaun
Gwangju Line	광주선	Songjeongni, Gwangju
Hwasun Line	화순선	Jangdong
Gunsan Line	군산선	Gunsan
Okgu Line	옥구선	Okgu
A'REX	인천국제공항철도	Gimpo Airport, Incheon Airport	Airport Express Co.

(high-speed service is available for bold lines)

For former or proposed railway lines, see also the articles on the Gimpo Line, Suin Line, Suryo Line, and Kŭmgang-san Line.For planned or constructing lines, see Jungbunaeryuk Line and Gangwon Line. There is no railway service on Jeju Island.

Classes of service

Frequent service is provided on most routes, with trains every 15-60 minutes connecting Seoul to all major South Korean cities. Four classes of train operate: KTX, which is the Korean high-speed railway system, will take you from downtown Seoul to downtown Busan faster than an airplane, makes less stops and is more expensive too; the Saemaul-ho (새마을호, "New Village") service, makes the few stops and provides most comfortable seating; Mugunghwa-ho (무궁화호, "Rose of Sharon") service, which is the most popular, stops at most but not all stations, and offers a mixture of reserved and unreserved seating; and Commuter (통근 열차) service, which is the slowest and cheapest of the three, stops at all stops, and offers no reserved seating.

High-speed service

KTX train at Songjeongni station

A high-speed railway known as Korea Train Express (KTX) is currently in service between Seoul and Busan or Mokpo. The railway uses French TGV technology. Service started in April 2004—with some sections operating along preexisting track—while service on the railway's fully separated tracks is planned to begin in 2010. Trains can reach a maximum speed of 300 km/h on dedicated high-speed track.

In 2005, the pure Korean high-speed railway technology has arrived. South Korean KTX engineers established HSR-350x independently. Korea became one of the top four High-speed train producing nations in the world. In 2007-2008, HSR-350x will be on service in Honam Line.

There's also high-speed train for normal tracks, as a tilting train called TTX(Tilting Train eXpress). This may be on service in Gyeongbu and Honam line because TTX uses an ATP safety system.

Currently, these lines provide high-speed service:

• Gyeongbu Line(KTX): Haengsin(depot) - Seoul - Gwangmyeong - Cheonan-Asan - Daejeon - Dongdaegu - Miryang - Gupo - Busan
• Honam Line(KTX): Haengsin(depot) - Yongsan - Gwangmyeong - Cheonan-Asan - Seodaejeon - Nonsan - Iksan - Gimjae - Jeongeup - Jangseong - Gwangju/Songjeongni - Naju - Mokpo

Services to North Korea

Until the division of Korea following the end of the Second World War, the Gyeongi Line and Gyeongwon Line extended into what is now North Korea. The Gyeongi Line connected Seoul to Kaesŏng, P'yŏngyang, and Shinŭiju on the Chinese border, while the Gyeongwon Line served Wŏnsan on the east coast. Another line—the Kŭmgang-san Line—connected the Southern city of Cheorwon on the Gyeongwon Line to Mt. Kŭmgang in the North. The Gyeongui Line is one of two lines whose south and north halves are now being reconnected, the other line being the Donghae Bukbu Line. On 17 May two test trains ran on the reinstalled lines; one on the west from Munsan to Kaesong; the second on the east from Jejin to Kumgang.

Subways

Main article: Subways in South Korea

South Korea's six largest cities—Seoul, Busan, Daegu, Gwangju, Daejeon and Incheon—all have subway systems.

Seoul's subway system is the oldest system in the country, with the Seoul Station-Cheongnyangni section of Line 1 opening in 1974.

Streetcars

Streetcars operated in Seoul from the turn of the 20th century until roughly 1970. The network covered the whole downtown area (Junggu and Jongnogu) as well as surrounding neighbourhoods, including Cheongnyangni in the east, Mapogu in the west, and Noryangjin across the Han River to the south. The network was largely replaced by the subway system whose construction began in the early 1970s. Lines 1 and 2 follow the old streetcar routes along Jongno and Euljiro respectively.

Buses

Regional services

Virtually all towns in South Korea of any size whatsoever are served by regional bus service. Regional routes are classified as Gosok bus ("high speed." express bus) or Shioe bus (pronounced "shee-way" — literally, "suburban." intercity bus) with Gosok buses operating over the longer distances and making the fewest (if any) stops en route. Shioe buses typically operate over shorter distances, are somewhat slower, and make more stops.

Local services

Within cities and towns, two types of city bus operate in general: Jwaseok ("coach") and Doshihyeong or Ipseok ("city type" or "standing"). Both types of bus often serve the same routes, make the same(or less) stops, and operate on similar frequencies, but Jwaseok buses are more expensive, offer comfortable seating; while Doshihyeong buses are cheaper, have fewer and less comfortable seats. Many small city and town does not have Jwaseok bus and their buses are officially called Nongeochon Bus("bus of rural area").

Some cities have their own bus classifying system.

'Traditional' type of bus	Seoul	Busan	Daegu
Jwaseok	Rapid ("gwangyeok," red) Trunk ("ganseon," blue)	Rapid ("geuphaeng") Coach ("jwaseok")	Rapid ("geuphaeng")
Doshihyeong/Ipseok	Trunk ("ganseon," blue) Branch ("jiseon," green)	Regular("ilban")	Circulation("sunhwan") Trunk("ganseon") Branch("jiseon").
Village	Branch ("jiseon," green) Circulation ("sunhwan," yellow)	Village ("maeul-bus")	N/A

Other services

Incheon International Airport is served by an extensive network of comfortable, high-speed buses from all parts of the country. While many department stores had their own small network of buses for shoppers before, this is no longer so due to government regulations. However, most churches and daycares still send buses around to pick up their congregants or pupils.

Roads

Main article: Roads and Expressways in South Korea

Domestic transportation improved greatly during the 1980s, and growth was evident in all sectors. The rapid improvement and extension of public roads and the increasing availability of motor vehicles contributed enormously to the mobility of the population. Approximately 51,000 kilometers of roadways spanned the country in 1988, 46.3 percent of which were paved. Express highways facilitated travel between major cities and reached a combined length of 1,539 kilometers in 1988, as compared to 86.8 kilometers in 1967 (see fig. 11). The 1980s saw the increased paving of roads and the building of ultramodern highways around Seoul (especially in the vicinity of the Olympic stadiums) and between Seoul and such major cities as Pusan and Taegu. In 1989 the government announced that it would start construction on nine new expressways with a combined length of 1,243 kilometers. In 1996, when the expressways and two additional projects were expected to be completed, South Korea was expected to have twenty-one expressways with a combined length of 2,840 kilometers.

The total number of motor vehicles climbed rapidly in the 1980s. By 1987 there were approximately 845,000 passenger cars and 748,000 commercial vehicles, up from a combined total of about 744,000 in 1980. In 1988 South Korean automakers produced 504,000 vehicles for domestic sale and 576,134 vehicles for export. In the first nine months of 1989, domestic sales reached nearly 800,000 vehicles.

The expansion and rapid improvement of South Korea's long-distance highway system led to the growth of an excellent intercity bus system in the 1980s. In 1988 there were ten express bus companies operating a fleet of some 900 buses connecting all of the major cities of Korea.

total: 86,990 km
paved: 64,808 km (including 1,996 km of expressways)
unpaved: 22,182 km (1998 est.)

Highways in South Korea are classified into freeways (expressways/motorways), national highways, and various classifications below the national level. All freeways are toll highways, and all freeways except Route 130 are operated by the Korea Highway Corporation (Website). The freeway network serves all parts of South Korea. The Highway Corporation operates excellent service amenities (dining and service facilities) en route. Click here for a map of the freeway system.

Waterways

1,609 km; use restricted to small native craft

Ferries

Virtually cut off from the Asian mainland, South Korea is a seafaring nation, with one of the world's largest shipbuilding industries and an extensive system of ferry services. As one of the world's most advanced IT technology exporters, South Korea operates one of the largest merchant fleets that sail regularly to China, Japan, and the Middle East. Most fleet operators are large conglomerates, while most ferry operators are small, private operators. The south and west coasts of the country are dotted with small islands which are served by ferries. In addition, the larger offshore Jeju and Ulleung Islands are also served by ferry. Ferries also operate between South Korea, China, and Japan. Major centers for ferry service include Incheon, Mokpo, Pohang, and Busan.

Ports and Harbours

Jinhae, Incheon, Gunsan, Masan, Mokpo, Pohang, Busan, Donghae, Ulsan, Yeosu, Jeju

Merchant Marine

total: 461 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 5,093,620 GRT/8,100,634 DWT
ships by type: bulk 98, cargo 149, chemical tanker 39, combination bulk 4, container 53, liquefied gas 13, multi-functional large load carrier 1, passenger 3, petroleum tanker 61, refrigerated cargo 26, roll-on/roll-off 4, specialized tanker 4, vehicle carrier 6 (1999 est.)

Air Travel

Although most interurban travel was either by express bus or by train, air service between major cities was increasingly available and popular, especially among business travelers. Korean Air, founded by the government in 1962 and privately owned since 1969, was South Korea's sole airline until 1988. Korean Air served nine major domestic routes in 1988 and also offered international service to Japan, the United States, Canada, West Germany, France, Hong Kong, Iraq, Libya, Malaysia, the Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, and the United Arab Emirates. A second carrier, Asiana Airlines, was established in 1988 to serve three domestic cities. To accommodate the rapidly growing number of air travelers, Incheon International Airport (serves Seoul) opened in 2000. There also were international airports at Gimpo(serves Seoul), Gimhae(serves Busan), Jeju, Cheongju, and Yangyang. Some international/domestic airports are under construction.

Airlines

South Korea is served by two international airlines: the largest carrier being Korean Air (Website) and the second largest carrier being Asiana Airlines (Website). Both provide frequent domestic service and operate extensive international networks. There are also two small domestic airliners (Hansung Airlines, Jeju Air) on service with much lower fares.

Airports

Seoul is served by two airports: Incheon International Airport (Website) and Gimpo International Airport (formerly Kimpo International Airport)(Website). International routes mainly serve Incheon, while domestic services mainly use Gimpo. Other major airports are located at Busan and Jeju.

Number of airports: 103 (1999 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:
total: 67
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 18
1,524 to 2,437 m: 15
914 to 1,523 m: 13
under 914 m: 20 (1999 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 36
over 3,047 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 32 (1999 est.)

Heliports: 203 (1999 est.)

Pipelines

• South-North Pipeline Korea
• Trans Korea Pipeline

These pipelines are for petroleum products. Additionally, there is a parallel petroleum, oils, and lubricants (POL) pipeline being completed

References

ISBN links support NWE through referral fees

• This article contains material from the Library of Congress Country Studies, which are United States government publications in the public domain.

See also

• List of Korea-related topics
• Transportation in North Korea

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