How to Get from Seoul to Pohang (with Photos & Costs)
On my summer 2023 trip, I visited Pohang as a coastal escape from Seoul—and getting there was easier than I expected.
There are four main ways to travel from Seoul to Pohang, and I’ll share the pros and cons of each.
Here’s the breakdown, plus which option I recommend (spoiler: bus and train are both fine).
📖 Read next: 11 Things to Do in Pohang (Is It Worth Visiting? + Kdrama Sites)
All Ways to Get to Pohang — Train, Bus or Car
You can either take the high-speed KTX train, express bus, or by car to get from Seoul to Pohang.
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 |
If you want to drive from Seoul to Pohang instead, you can rent a car as a tourist. Check car rental prices for South Korea online.
1. By Express Bus
📲 Book your express bus ticket from Seoul to Pohang
Travel time: 3.5 hours
Price of bus ticket: 33,000 won ($25 USD)
Starting point: Seoul Express Bus Terminal
You will take the Seoul express bus to the Pohang Intercity Bus Terminal, which is located in central-downtown Pohang.
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.
Make your trip to Pohang easier with a day tour:
🔹 Small Group Guided Tour in Pohang
🔹 Top Instagrammable Photo Spots Pohang Day Tour from Busan
🔹 Hometown Cha Cha Cha kdrama tour in Pohang
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 either ask staff, 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.
| 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 |
🎥 Watch my Pohang vlog:
2. By KTX High-Speed Train
📲 Book your KTX train to Pohang
Travel time: 2.5 hours
Price of bus ticket: 53,000 won ($40 USD)
Starting point: Seoul Station
If you take the KTX train, the train stops in Pohang Station, which is closer to north-central Pohang.
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 from Seoul 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.
3. By Rental 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 from Seoul to Pohang. 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.
4. 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.
5. Via 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 Kdrama 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
Return Trip — How to Go from Pohang Back 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.
Summary: Best Way to Get from Seoul to Pohang
| 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 |
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!
My recommendations for your Pohang trip:
🚌 Express bus to/from Pohang — reserve your ticket in advance
🚆 Train to Pohang — prebook your seat online
🏨 Best stays in Pohang — top-rated places near key spots
🎫 Get a KTX Pass — best value for visiting multiple cities by train
Related Posts
- 11 Things to Do in Pohang (Is It Worth Visiting? + Kdrama Sites)
- Guide to Visiting the Famous Pohang Space Walk
- Basic South Korea Travel Tips for First-Time Visitors
- 28 Top Seoul Attractions to Add to Your Korea Bucket List
- 13 Free Things to Do in Busan (Popular + Underrated Spots!)
- Jeju Island Travel Guide: Best Areas to Stay, Transportation, Bus Guide
