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Key Points

South Korea's railway services have experienced a remarkable surge in foreign passenger traffic during the first half of 2025. The number of international travelers using railway services has nearly doubled compared to two years earlier, reaching 2.84 million passengers. Railway operators like KORAIL and SRT have implemented innovative multilingual services to attract and support foreign travelers. If the current growth trend continues, total foreign railway passengers are expected to exceed 6 million in 2025.

Key Points: Korea Railway Foreign Passenger Traffic Surges 99% in 2025

  • Foreign railway passengers reach 2.84 million in first half of 2025
  • Passenger numbers nearly doubled compared to 2023 levels
  • KORAIL introduces AI translation services in 13 languages
  • SRT launches multilingual mobile app for international travelers
2 min read

Foreign railway traffic doubles in 2 years in South Korea in 2025 first half

South Korean railways see dramatic rise in foreign travelers, with multilingual services boosting international passenger numbers across high-speed train networks.

"We've expanded multilingual services to better serve international passengers - SR Railway Spokesperson"

Seoul, July 20

The number of foreigners using South Korea's railway services reached nearly 3 million in the first half of this year, nearly doubling from two years earlier, local railway operators said on Sunday.

From January to June, a total of 85.09 million passengers used the railway services, with foreigners accounting for 2.84 million, or 3.3 percent, according to SR, the operator of the SRT high-speed train service, and Korea Railroad Corp. (KORAIL), the operator of KTX high-speed trains and regular trains.

The first-half figure for foreign passengers rose 13 percent from 2.5 million during the same period in 2024 and surged 99 percent from 1.43 million in the first half of 2023, reports Yonhap news agency.

Since July last year, KORAIL has operated a priority ticket counter for foreign customers at Seoul Station and adopted an AI-based voice recognition translation program that offers services in 13 languages.

In November, KORAIL revamped its multilingual website to let foreign passengers choose seats, arrange luggage delivery and book rental car services more easily without language barriers.

In May, SRT also launched multilingual services on its mobile app, allowing ticket reservations and timetable searches in English, Chinese and Japanese to better serve foreign passengers.

If the current growth trend continues in the second half, the total number of foreign railway passengers is expected to surpass 6 million this year, up from 5.61 million in 2024 and 3.49 million in 2023.

Meanwhile, Hanwha Philly Shipyard, owned by South Korea's chemicals-to-shipbuilding conglomerate Hanwha Group, is considering bidding for the U.S. Navy's combat support ship construction project, the group said on Sunday.

At a recent media briefing in Philadelphia, the shipyard's CEO David Kim said Hanwha is in "discussions" about participating in the project.

An additional U.S. defence budget of more than US$20 billion has been approved for the construction of combat and support ships, he said, adding the Senate and House of Representatives are discussing how to execute the funding.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
I visited Seoul last year and their trains are so clean and punctual! But why does the article suddenly jump from railways to navy ships? Feels like two different news pieces combined. The railway stats are impressive though - 3.3% foreign passengers is significant.
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Rohit P
As someone who travels frequently, I appreciate countries that make efforts to accommodate foreign visitors. The 13-language translation program is brilliant! Indian tourism would benefit massively if we had such systems at our railway stations. Make in India should include these smart solutions too.
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Sarah B
The numbers are impressive but I wonder how much of this growth is due to K-pop tourism? BTS and other groups have made South Korea a top destination. Their transport infrastructure is capitalizing on this cultural influence smartly. India has similar potential with our film industry!
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Vikram M
While the railway achievements are commendable, the sudden shift to naval contracts feels out of place. The article should focus on one topic. That said, the 6 million projected foreign passengers shows how good transport can boost a country's economy and global image. Bharat should take notes!
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Kavya N
The multilingual mobile app is such a simple but effective idea! 💡 Our IRCTC app struggles with basic English sometimes. If South Korea can manage 13 languages, surely India with our linguistic diversity can do better? This is the kind of digital India we should aspire for.

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