NewsStocksSamsung Wallet Launches Paperless Train Ticket Service with Korail

Samsung Wallet Launches Paperless Train Ticket Service with Korail

Author: The Korea Times Business·

Key Takeaways

  • Samsung Wallet now supports paperless Korail train tickets, representing the first domestic mobile boarding pass service of its kind in South Korea.
  • Tickets bought at station windows or via the Korail Plus booking app can be added to Samsung Wallet, and refunds can also be processed directly within the application.
  • The KTX network operated by Korail is South Korea's primary high-speed rail system, connecting major cities including Seoul, Busan, and Daejeon while carrying tens of millions of passengers annually.
  • SRT service will be renamed KTX-Sancheon effective September 1, and tickets for both SRT and KTX-Sancheon will become eligible for Samsung Wallet integration starting that month.
  • Tickets stored in Samsung Wallet synchronize with calendar and Now Brief features on Galaxy devices, providing users with boarding reminders and travel schedule management.
Samsung Wallet Launches Paperless Train Ticket Service with Korail

Samsung Electronics has launched a paperless ticket service in partnership with Korail, the Korea Railroad Corp., enabling users to register mobile train tickets in Samsung Wallet rather than receiving physical tickets.

The feature marks the first initiative of its kind supported by a domestic mobile boarding pass service, the company said. Users can activate the functionality within the Samsung Wallet app, which Samsung introduced in 2022 by unifying its earlier Samsung Pay and Samsung Pass platforms into a single application covering payments, digital IDs, keys, and now national rail tickets.

Once a customer agrees to the Samsung Wallet terms of service, paying for a Korail ticket at a station ticket window will automatically add the mobile ticket to their Wallet app.

Tickets purchased through Korail Plus — an integrated booking app launched Aug. 3 that allows users to reserve both Korail and SR Corp. train tickets, including the SRT high-speed line — can also be added to Samsung Wallet via its "Add to Wallet" feature. The KTX network operated by Korail is South Korea's primary high-speed rail system, connecting major cities including Seoul, Busan, and Daejeon, and carries tens of millions of passengers annually.

The SRT service will be renamed KTX-Sancheon effective Sept. 1 as it integrates with the KTX high-speed rail network. Tickets for SRT and KTX-Sancheon services will also be eligible for addition to Samsung Wallet starting in September, according to the company.

Samsung Electronics has additionally enabled refunds for mobile train tickets directly within Samsung Wallet.

Tickets stored in the app synchronize with the calendar and Now Brief features on Galaxy devices, allowing users to receive advance boarding reminders and manage their travel schedules more efficiently. The integration deepens Samsung's push to position its Galaxy device ecosystem around everyday utility services, an area where rival mobile wallets such as Apple Wallet and Google Wallet have also been expanding transit and ticketing support across multiple markets.

The company noted that the paperless ticket service also contributes to environmental and cost-saving objectives by reducing the need to print and discard physical tickets.

"We are pleased to have successfully implemented the 'paperless ticket' service through our partnership with Korail," said Chai Won-cheol, executive vice president and head of the digital wallet team at Samsung Electronics' Mobile eXperience Business. "We will continue to lead the realization of Samsung Wallet's values — providing innovative everyday convenience for our customers while expanding paperless living and environmental protection."