Key answer
The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and the Fair Trade Commission announced on August 3, 2026, that they had granted final approval for the corporate merger of Korail and SR. As a result, KTX·SRT integrated-service trains are scheduled to begin operating on September 1, 2026. Tickets for September services will be available from 10 a.m. on August 5 through Korail+ and the Korail website.
The most direct changes for passengers concern booking channels, fares, and seat capacity. Under the integrated-operation plan, existing KTX fares will be adjusted to SRT fare levels, reducing them by an average of 10%. A mileage benefit equivalent to 5% of the payment amount will also apply to SRT routes. Seat capacity is planned to increase by approximately 15,000 seats per weekday and 17,000 seats per weekend day, while the number of weekend services will increase by 26.
For passengers in Pohang, the key issue is the scale of the service expansion. Pohang City announced on August 24 that, from September 1, 2026, high-speed train services between Pohang and Seoul·Suseo would increase by a total of seven trips per day. KTX services between Pohang and Seoul Station will increase by three trips on weekdays, from 29 to 32, and by three trips on weekends, from 31 to 34. SRT services between Pohang and Suseo Station will increase from four to eight trips per day.
Why it is making headlines now
This issue has drawn attention because changes for passengers ahead of the September 1 integrated-service launch coincided with the announcement of additional high-speed trains to Pohang. The policy debate also expanded after President Lee Jae Myung instructed the Fair Trade Commission at a Cabinet meeting on August 25, 2026, to review whether it is appropriate to assess mergers involving public enterprises under the same standards used for private companies.
However, no change to the standards for reviewing mergers involving public enterprises has been finalized. The confirmed information at this point is only the President’s instruction to conduct a review. In addition, the fare reductions and seat expansion were not imposed by the Fair Trade Commission as corrective measures attached to its merger approval. They were described as measures to monitor the implementation of the business plan under a memorandum of understanding between the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and the Fair Trade Commission.
Things to know
The long-term effects of lower fares on railway deficits, the competitiveness of express and intercity buses, and mobility rights in regions without rail service cannot be determined from currently available public information alone. Rather than presenting claims such as “the bus industry will collapse” or “regional mobility rights will deteriorate” as established outcomes, it is more appropriate to view them as policy issues that require continued monitoring after integrated operations begin.
The integrated service and Pohang expansion are both scheduled to take effect on September 1, 2026. Operating plans, fares, and booking procedures may change before implementation, so passengers should check the latest booking information on Korail+ and the Korail website before traveling.