Incheon Airport to Ulsan by KTX – a Step by Step Guide

By Jenn Levy (with additional info from Deirdre Madden)

UPDATE JULY 1,2014:

The KTX now runs directly from Incheon Airport to Ulsan on a limited schedule (09:07, 12:07, 18:35), so if that works for your arrival time, you can follow the directions below to the Airport Express Train, then follow signs to the KTX station. Photos will follow as soon as we have some 😉

GETTING FROM THE ARRIVAL GATE > AIRPORT EXPRESS > SEOUL STATION >> KTX DESTINATION

Here is a map for how to get from the arrivals hall (1st floor) to the Airport Railroad (B1). The airport is clearly sign posted in English.

When you come out of the arrivals hall, you need to look for signs for the Airport Railroad.

If you get stuck, you can ask someone for help;  just show them the picture above, or have them read the next line.

Where is the airport railroad please? 공항철도(지하철)는 어디에 있나요?

It’s a bit of a trek down some long moving sidewalks, but you will eventually come to a big escalator like this.

At the bottom, the airport railroad entrance will be on the right like this. 

Buy a ticket from the machine. There is an English option, you can pay with bills, and it gives change. You can also buy tickets at the information counter beside the entrance gates.

The EXPRESS train and the COMMUTER train take the exact same route. The express goes AIRPORT>SEOUL in about 45mins, and the commuter does the same, but has 10 stops along the way, and takes about 53mins, so don’t worry if you get on the wrong one. They both end up at Seoul Station. Regularly, the express train is 13,000W, but until Dec.3 2013, there’s a sale price of 8,000W. The commuter train is 4,050W. Check this site for more information or for the schedule, check here. Express trains leave every half hour, on the hour and half (except the first at 5:20am) and finish at 9:30pm. Commuter trains run much more frequently, between 5:24am and midnight.

If you are taking one of the three KTX trains directly from Incheon Airport to Ulsan Station, the entrance is next to the “skating rink”, beside the Express Train entrance. From Ardis Csontos Haislet: “take an escalator down to the tracks. No need to get a gate card like you do with the Express. From Incheon it makes one stop, another at Seoul Station, then all the normal stops to Ulsan. The total commute is about 3 1/2 hours and costs 63,400W. There is limited seating at the tracks. The train is there about 30 minutes ahead of departure but is being cleaned for most of that time.” (updated July 2014)

ARRIVING AT SEOUL STATION AND GETTING YOUR TRAIN TICKET

When you arrive at Seoul Station, you’ll go up at least 2 escalators into the main station. You should come out into the station in the corner. You’ll see McDonalds, as well as some cafés and other restaurants, in front of you. There are also toilets in the facing corner. WARNING: If you go for food, make sure you have PLENTY of time, as the queue is always miles long and people will probably butt in front of you.

To pick up your train ticket, look for a big row of desks like this. The signs will be in English.

The people at the desk will speak some English, maybe not lots, but enough, so try to speak a little clearer than normal. They should be able to answer any questions you have. If you are having trouble, try going to the Information Desk, in the middle of the station. You can purchase tickets there, also, and the staff have excellent English.

PICKING UP YOUR TICKET AND GETTING ON THE TRAIN

If you have already booked and paid for your train ticket online, you don’t need to pay anything again, but you need to take your printed page or confirmation number to the ticket window at Seoul Station to pick up your actual train ticket. You will need to give them your passport (or Alien Registration Card if you’re a resident) when you pick up your ticket.

If you haven’t booked a ticket, you can ask for one for the next train. Unless it is a holiday or long-weekend, or rush-hour on a Friday night, you should be able to get a seat without a problem. If the seats are sold out, you can opt for a standing ticket, which is cheaper than a seat; try asking for the “cinema car” as it’s often empty. Otherwise, get to the platform early to try to score one of the jump seats located right inside the train doors.

Pay attention to the train number on the ticket, not the destination: check the train number against the departure board (it will switch between English and Korean) as it will tell you on which track to get the train.

The board will say the final destination station, not necessarily where you’re getting off, so look for the train number as, like in the picture, there may be more than one train going to the same destination. All trains through Ulsan terminate in Busan.

If you’re not sure, there should be an attendant on the platform somewhere, or the train number will be on the side of the doorway as you get on or on a TV screen inside.

Trains are always on time, so be on the train at least 10-15 mins before your departure time. If you miss the train, go back to the ticket office and ask them to reissue you with another ticket for the next available one. You may need to pay a little bit if this happens.

There is usually a snack cart that comes around, but if you have time, go to the shops in the station before you leave, as it’ll be a little cheaper, and you can take food and drinks on board no problem, but remember to check your train time first.

There are toilets throughout the train, just look for the signs above the doors, so don’t worry if you don’t have time in the station. There is an area near the door for your suticases. Don’t worry about leaving them there, no-one will take them. There is also WiFi on board the train, as well as cell phone signals.

Each station will be announced in Korean and in English as well, you can also check the monitor in the middle of the car. If you intend to nap on the train, set a reminder alarm for 30 mins before your arrival time (this will be printed on your ticket) so that you have enough time to go to the toilet, grab your bags, etc. before you arrive at your destination.

ONCE YOU GET TO ULSAN 

Ulsan Station is located in the suburb of Eonyang, so to get into the city-proper, you have a few options.

Taxi – The taxi rank is well organized, with a man directing you to the next available cab. If you don’t know it well, have the address you’re going to written out in Korean for them, so they can use their GPS. A taxi to town will probably cost between 15-25,000 won and last 25-30 mins, depending on which area you’re going to. Most taxis accept Visa cards, Korean debit and credit cards and cash. A little orange triangle on the roof of the car will identify them as “card taxis”, or you can ask them, as the Korean word for card is pronounced “cah-d”.

Limosine Bus – Not quite as fancy as it sounds, the 5000 series buses run express-style routes to various areas of town. Check out the Ulsan Online Bus Route guide to find the bus number (5001-5004) for the area you’re trying to reach. The bus costs 3,200 won (3,000 if you have a bus card), and the driver can make change for you. They run every 30mins, and take approximately 25-40 mins to downtown.

City Bus – The 1703 Bus stops at Ulsan station, and runs into town, to the Taehwagang Station. Check the link above for the route. This bus costs less than the limosine bus (1,700 won cash or 1,500 won with a card), and stops more frequently.

The 3000 bus runs to Yangsan.

Happy travels!