How to Get from Seoul to Pohang (with Photos & Costs)
I went to Pohang during the summer of 2023, and it was a nice getaway from bustling Seoul.
Thankfully, it’s quite easy to commute to Pohang.
If want to travel from Seoul to Pohang, here are fours ways to get there, and which I recommend (Spoiler: bus or train are both good).
📖 Read next: 11 Things to Do in Pohang (Is It Worth Visiting? + Kdrama Sites)
Where is Pohang and Why Visit?
Pohang is a coastal city on the east of South Korea. Pohang is known for its beaches, cultural sites, and beautiful coastal views.
Pohang is 2.5 hours from Seoul by train, and 3.5 hours by bus.
Popular kdramas like Hometown Cha Cha Cha, Run On, and When the Camellia Blooms were also filmed here. So if you’re a kdrama fan, and itching for a laid-back trip in South Korea, visit Pohang.
🎥 Watch my Pohang vlog:
How to Get from Seoul to Pohang
You can either take the high-speed KTX train, express bus, or by car. While the train is fastest, an express bus can be more convenient if you don’t want to navigate around Seoul Station.
- Estimate costs. Prices may vary
| By Bus | By KTX Train |
|---|---|
| 3.5 hours | 2.5 hours + taxi/bus |
| 33,000 ($25 USD) | 53,000 won ($40 USD) |
| Bus Tickets | Train Tickets / KTX Pass |
Driving? 🚙 Rent a car in South Korea for as cheap as $28 USD a day
By Express Bus
📲 Book your express bus ticket to Pohang online
1 hour | Price of Bus from Seoul to Pohang: 33,000 ($25 USD)
The Pohang Intercity Bus Terminal is located in central-downtown Pohang.
Address: 85 Jungheung-ro, Nam-gu, Pohang-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do
While the bus takes longer than train, I recommend taking the express bus to get from Seoul to Pohang if:
- The sites in Pohang you want to see are more central or south. They will be closer to the bus station than the KTX station. (Though, the Pohang KTX station is only a 20-minute bus ride to the bus terminal.)
Plus, you get to experience of going to a rest stop in Korea.
If your trip is less than a month away, you can buy a bus ticket from Klook.
How to Buy a Ticket at Seoul Express Bus Terminal
It was really simple to buy a ticket in person the day of. You can buy from the ticket machine or counter.
Check online for the seat availability on txbuse.t-money.co.kr but you can’t buy a ticket online unless you have a local Korea bank card. You can always go a few days earlier to buy a ticket in person.
Again, if your trip is at least a month later, you can book a ticket on Klook.
Instructions:
1. Take the subway to the Seoul Express Bus Terminal stop.
2. Walk towards exit 1 and follow the signs for Express Bus Terminal.
3. Follow the signs for the Gyeongbu Line.
4. Keep walking until you reach the ticket counter or machines. Note: Signboard schedules don’t appear in English. You’ll have to ask, look at the ticket kiosk, or look online for the schedule.
5. Buy a ticket at a ticket kiosk or ticket counter. The kiosk is easy to use and is available in English:
- Under destination, choose “P” and look for “Pohang”
- Choose your departure time.
- Select your seat.
- Pay with cash or credit card.
6. Wait for your bus.
- You can wait inside across the ticket counter where there are lots of comfortable seats, or in the waiting rooms near the platform.
7. Head to your bus platform.
- You ticket will show the platform number on the right.
- Head outside to the platform and look for your platform number. The signboard will also say “Pohang.”
9. On the Bus Ride from Seoul to Pohang:
- You load in your own luggage and scan your ticket.
- Seatbelt is required. The drivers usually don’t speak English but will signal to use your seatbelt.
- They stop once at a rest stop. It was around 15 minutes. It was announced in Korean, so either ask or just be extra mindful of the time.
🚌 Check ticket availability and prices on Klook
By KTX High-Speed Train
2.5 hours | Price of Train from Seoul to Pohang: 53,000 won ($40 USD)
Starting point: Seoul Station
If you take the train, the train stops in Pohang Station, which is closer to north-central Pohang.
Address of Pohang KTX station: Gyeongsangbuk-do, Pohang-si, Buk-gu, Heunghae-eup, 포항역로 1
From the train station, you take an additional bus or taxi to your destination in Pohang.
If you want to go to the Pohang Space Walk, for example, a 20-minute bus will get you there.
The train from Seoul to Pohang takes about 2.5 hours or less and will cost around 53,000 won ($40 USD).
🎫 You can prebook your train ticket to Pohang online.
📲 Traveling to multiple cities by train? You can buy a KTX Pass online
To travel from Seoul to Pohang by KTX, follow these steps:
- Take the subway or bus to Seoul Station, which is the main railway station in Seoul.
- Purchase your train ticket online, or in person at the station. If you’re traveling to multiple cities in Korea, you can also buy a KTX Pass online. Make sure to check the train schedule and ticket availability during peak travel seasons.
- Head to the platform and seat listed on your ticket.
By Car
🚙 Rent a car in South Korea for as cheap as $28 USD a day
The driving distance from Seoul to Pohang is approximately 333 kilometers (207 miles), and the travel time by car will vary depending on traffic and what route you take.
On average, the drive takes around 3.5 hours.
Use Naver or Kakao Maps for directions. Do not use Google Maps, as it is not optimized for South Korea.
Pohang is a bit harder to travel around by bus, so renting a car to get around in Pohang, joining a tour, or hiring a driver would be more convenient.
By Plane
While less common, you can fly from Gimpo International Airport or Incheon International Airport in Seoul to Pohang Airport.
It costs around $40-50 USD and will take an hour.
Pohang Tours
I’ve only seen one tour that will take you from Seoul to Pohang. It is quite pricy, but it will take you around Pohang and provides roundtrip transportation | BOOK IT HERE
Other tours to look at while in Pohang:
🚌 Small Group Guided Tour in Pohang
🚎 Hometown Cha Cha Cha in Pohang tour (group tour) | Individual Tour
❄️ Cheongsong Ice Valley and Pohang Spacewalk Tour
How to Get Around Pohang
There is no subway system in Pohang, and the buses are quite infrequent. I did a mix of both buses and Kakao T taxis, which I was able to book right away.
It takes 1-2 hours to get from north to south and eastern Pohang, as the coast is quite long.
I recommend staying in a hotel for a night or hiring a driver to explore more places.
If you’re visiting Pohang mainly for the kdrama filming sites, consider booking a Pohang tour for convenience.
While taking the smaller village buses was a nice experience, they were more infrequent and had inaccurate ETAs on the maps. Just taking a taxi would have been much faster, though more expensive.
Driving? 🚙 Rent a car in South Korea for as cheap as $28 USD a day
Pohang to Seoul
If you’re going back to Seoul, or to other cities like Busan or Gyeongju, take a bus back to the Pohang KTX station or the Pohang Express Bus Terminal and depart from there.
I took an express bus from Pohang to Gyeongju, and it was simple to buy a ticket at the Pohang Intercity Bus Terminal. It takes 30 minutes from Pohang to Gyeongju and costs 4,000 won, or $3 USD.
📖 Why I highly recommend taking a trip to Gyeongju.
Best Way to Get from Seoul to Pohang
Since the Pohang KTX station is only 20 minutes from the Pohang Bus Terminal, either option will be fine.
If you’ve never taken the KTX train South Korea, and want to experience it, take the the train.
If you want to experience a rest stop in Korea, take the bus.
If you’re staying closer to central-southern Pohang, also take the bus as it’s closer. Plus, it’s in a downtown area.
Whichever route you get to Pohang, have a great trip! I’m sure you’ll love it!
Quick Links:
🚌 Book your express bus ticket to/from Pohang
🎫 Prebook your train ticket to Pohang online
🚊 Purchase a KTX Pass online for travel to multiple cities
🚙 Rent a car in South Korea for as cheap as $28 USD a day
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