Korea Railroad Corp. (KORAIL) has introduced three-day, two-night premium train travel packages this summer, positioning rail travel as a comprehensive vacation platform rather than a simple mode of transportation. The move comes as South Korea's domestic tourism sector continues to benefit from sustained demand for intra-country travel, with public agencies and local governments increasingly collaborating to distribute visitor traffic beyond the Seoul metropolitan area. The flagship offerings — the Namdo Train Dulle-gil connecting the southern region and the Sanhaejinmi Expedition through Gangwon Province — run through August.

The itineraries bundle KTX transportation, hotel accommodations, major tourist attractions, and regional dining specialties into a single booking. Korea's high-speed rail network, which began operations in 2004 and connects major cities at speeds up to 300 km/h, provides the backbone for these packages, significantly reducing intercity travel times and making multi-city itineraries feasible within a short trip. Travelers can experience the highlights of Korea's southern and northern regions without separately arranging transportation, lodging, and restaurants.

Namdo Train Dulle-gil: Southern Korea Route

The Namdo Train Dulle-gil links major destinations across South Jeolla Province and South Gyeongsang Province via southern rail networks, including the Gyeongjeon Line and the Mokpo-Boseong Line. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and KORAIL developed the itinerary in collaboration with five southern local governments: Busan, Gwangju, Ulsan, South Jeolla Province, and South Gyeongsang Province. The core strategy links the Gyeongjeon and Mokpo-Boseong lines to unify the Jeolla and South Gyeongsang regions into a single tourism zone, reflecting a broader government push to promote regional tourism economies.

This year, a new departure option from the Seoul metropolitan area has expanded access to the route. Travelers board a KTX train at Yongsan Station in Seoul to Mokpo Station, then continue to Hadong and Jinju.

In Mokpo, visitors take in the port city's natural scenery and modern history by touring Gatbawi Rock and the Modern History and Culture Space. In the evening, passengers board the Samhakdo Sunset Cruise to view the southern sunset over the sea. The Hadong segment includes visits to Ssanggye Temple, Hwagae Market, and a ride on the Hadong Cable Car. Travelers then proceed to Jinju in South Gyeongsang Province to visit the Wolasan Forest Experience Center, take an excursion boat on the Nam River, and tour Jinju Fortress.

The package highlights regional cuisine, featuring specialties such as abalone and seaweed bibimbap, sashimi set meals, grilled black pork, and Jinju-style naengmyeon. The KTX covers the long-distance legs, giving travelers more time to relax and explore local food and sights. Departures are scheduled for Aug. 7 and Aug. 21.

Sanhaejinmi Expedition: Gangwon Province Route

In Gangneung, visitors explore historic sites, art, beaches, and coffee culture by riding Ojukheon coffee cup boats, visiting Haslla Art World, and walking along Anmok Beach Coffee Street. Gangwon Province, which hosted events during the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics, has continued to invest in tourism infrastructure that now serves summer visitors as well. In Pyeongchang, the itinerary includes the Woljeongsa needle fir forest trail for a cool summer forest experience, plus visits to Herbnara Farm and the Lee Hyo-seok culture and arts village to explore the region's natural scenery and literary heritage. Visitors can also unwind amid high-altitude landscapes at the Balwangsan Cable Car and Daegwallyeong Sheep Farm.

Participants stay at a five-star hotel in Gangneung and sample regional specialties including sashimi set meals, grilled Korean beef, and hanjeongsik, a traditional Korean multicourse meal. The trip runs on July 22 and Aug. 20.

Integrated Booking and Mobility Services

KORAIL is also expanding connecting transportation and booking services through KORAIL MaaS, available on the KORAIL Talk app. The platform allows travelers to book train tickets, rental cars, car-sharing services, sightseeing taxis, and leisure activities in one place. This integrated approach mirrors the broader global Mobility-as-a-Service trend, where transit operators bundle multiple modes of transport into seamless digital platforms. KORAIL has placed "Regional Festival Train Travel" leaflets and QR posters at major stations nationwide, enabling users to scan them with a smartphone to check schedules, locations, main programs, nearby stations, and local transit connections.

"If you want to make the journey itself part of your vacation this summer, a multi-day train trip to Korea's southern provinces or Gangwon Province could be a good option," a KORAIL official said.

This article from the Hankook Ilbo, the sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times.

Source: The Korea Times