ITX-Cheongchun: Korea's Only 2-Deck Train, Round Trip to Chuncheon for KRW 19,600 — Day Trip

Yongsan to Chuncheon is 9,800 KRW and 1 hr 15 min

The ITX-Cheongchun is a 8-car, 402-seat train with a top speed of 180 km/h that runs on the Gyeongchun Line, and cars 4 and 5 are the 2-deck cars. It leaves from Yongsan and Cheongnyangni stations in Seoul and stops at Sangbong, Pyeongnae-Hopyeong, Cheongpyeong, Gapyeong, Gangchon, Namchuncheon, Chuncheon and others.^[1]

The ITX-Maum is a regular main-line train that started running in September 2023. From Seoul, there are trains from Cheongnyangni Station toward Wonju, Jecheon, Yeongju, Andong, Yeongwol, Mindungsan, Taebaek and Donghae, and from Yongsan Station toward Cheonan, Asan and Hongseong.^[5] The times and fares below are as of Monday, October 12, 2026 on the unofficial timetable site Asamaru.^[2]

1. How to Ride the ITX-Cheongchun: 2-Deck Cars and Free Seats

The ITX-Cheongchun is the only train in Korea with 2-deck cars, and cars 4 and 5 are the 2-deck ones. They cost the same fare, so if you want Bukhan River views out the window, pick cars 4 and 5 when you book.^[1]

The number of trains varies a lot by day. Yongsan–Chuncheon had 18 a day on Monday and 26 a day on Saturday. The first train leaves Yongsan at 05:38 (Saturday 06:15) and the last at 22:50 (Saturday 22:32). Besides standard class, there are separate standing and free-seat fares, which for Yongsan–Chuncheon is 9,300 KRW, about 500 KRW cheaper.^[3]

• Seats on Chuncheon-bound trains on weekend mornings and Seoul-bound trains on Sunday afternoons fill up quickly. Buy your return ticket at the same time.
• Boarding at Cheongnyangni is 15–20 min quicker than at Yongsan and 1,200 KRW cheaper (for Gapyeong and Chuncheon).

2. Gapyeong: Within 1 hr, the Station for Nami Island and Jaraseom Island

From Yongsan to Gapyeong Station, the ITX-Cheongchun takes 55 min to 1 hr 5 min and costs 6,900 KRW in standard class. From Cheongnyangni it takes 38–46 min and costs 5,700 KRW. On Mondays it runs 18 a day, and the last train from Gapyeong back to Yongsan leaves at 22:33.^[2]

Gapyeong Station is the gateway to the Nami Island ferry terminal and Jaraseom Island. You reach Nami Island by boat from the terminal, and Jaraseom Island is on the Bukhan River in Daljeon-ri, Gapyeong-eup, close to the station.^[2]

• To the Nami Island ferry terminal, it's a short bus or taxi ride from in front of the station. Check bus times in a map app first.
• The Nami Island ferries get crowded on weekends. Take a train that arrives early in the morning and you'll wait less.

3. Chuncheon: Get Off at the End of the Line for Dakgalbi and the Soyang River

From Yongsan to Chuncheon Station, the ITX-Cheongchun takes 1 hr 13–24 min and costs 9,800 KRW in standard class. From Cheongnyangni it takes 56 min to 1 hr 5 min and costs 8,600 KRW. The last train from Chuncheon back to Seoul leaves at 22:14, so you can stay comfortably into the evening.^[3][4]

The Soyang River Skywalk, within walking distance of Chuncheon Station, is a 156 m observation deck with a clear glass floor. It's described as refunding your 2,000 KRW admission fee as Chuncheon Sarang vouchers of the same amount.^[11]

• Many travelers get off one stop earlier at Namchuncheon Station to head into downtown Chuncheon.
• Some dakgalbi restaurants have a 2-serving minimum. If you're traveling alone, ask before you order.

4. ITX-Maum: Slower Than the KTX but Cheaper, and It Stops at Smaller Stations

The ITX-Maum is a regular main-line train with 264 seats and an outlet and USB port at every seat. It first ran on the Gyeongbu, Honam, Jeolla, Yeongdong and Taebaek lines in September 2023, and expanded to the Jungang Line Cheongnyangni–Andong in December 2023 and the Janghang Line Yongsan–Hongseong in November 2024.^[5]

On the same route, it's slower than the KTX-Eum but cheaper. Cheongnyangni–Andong is about 2 hr and 27,700 KRW on the KTX-Eum, and 2 hr 33–42 min and 21,100 KRW on the ITX-Maum. On Mondays, the Cheongnyangni–Andong ITX-Maum runs 4 a day.^[6]

• The ITX-Maum runs only 1–5 a day on each line. Check train numbers and times first, then plan your day.
• The last ITX-Maum from Andong back to Cheongnyangni leaves at 18:22 (Monday).

5. Yeongwol: Take the Evening ITX-Maum and Stay the Night

From Cheongnyangni to Yeongwol Station, the ITX-Maum runs 1 a day (leaving at 17:08), takes 1 hr 47 min and costs 16,000 KRW in standard class. The Mugunghwa runs 4 a day, takes 2 hr 7–30 min and costs 11,400 KRW. The ITX-Maum back leaves Yeongwol at 09:58 (1 a day).^[7]

Because the ITX-Maum goes down in the evening and comes up in the morning, Yeongwol suits an overnight trip well. Cheongnyeongpo, where King Danjong was exiled, is surrounded by the river, so you take a short boat ride in.^[7]

• For a day trip, take the Mugunghwa. It leaves Cheongnyangni at 07:34, and you can come back from Yeongwol on the 16:05 or 17:29 train.
• The last train back from Yeongwol Station is the Mugunghwa at 20:47.

6. Jeongseon Mindungsan: The Station for Autumn Silver Grass

From Cheongnyangni to Mindungsan Station, the ITX-Maum runs 1 a day (17:08), takes 2 hr 26 min and costs 19,200 KRW. The Mugunghwa runs 4 a day, takes 2 hr 54 min to 3 hr 12 min and costs 13,600 KRW.^[8]

Mindungsan is famous for its autumn silver grass. Jeongseon County runs a Mindungsan Dolline shuttle bus every weekend through November 8, 2026, and in September–November runs two routes departing from Mindungsan Stadium and Neungjeon Village. The fare is 10,000 KRW (for 1 person), and you get 5,000 KRW in local currency vouchers back.^[10]

• If you also want to hike, a reasonable plan is to take the Mugunghwa leaving Cheongnyangni at 07:34 down and come back on the 15:24 or 16:48 train from Mindungsan.
• The shuttle timetable is posted on the official Jeongseon tourism blog.

7. Asan, Yesan and Hongseong: 1–2 hr From Yongsan on the Janghang Line

On the Janghang Line from Yongsan, it's 1 hr 26–32 min (10,400 KRW) to Asan's Onyang Oncheon Station by Saemaeul and 1 hr 28–35 min (7,000 KRW) by Mugunghwa. On Mondays, the ITX-Maum on this route runs only in the morning, at 06:50 (1 a day), and takes 1 hr 23 min. On the same train, Yesan is 1 hr 44 min and Hongseong 1 hr 58 min.^[9]

The area around Onyang Oncheon Station is Asan's Oncheon-dong, where the hot spring facilities cluster, so you can get off the train and stop at a hot spring right away. The last train from Onyang Oncheon Station back to Yongsan leaves at 22:26.^[9]

• On the Janghang Line, most trains are Saemaeul and Mugunghwa. The time difference is only a few minutes, so the cheaper Mugunghwa is fine.
• Seoul Metropolitan Subway Line 1 also goes to Onyang Oncheon Station, but it takes much longer.

Cities worth visiting with this guide

• Gapyeong: ITX Round Trip for Two KRW 22,800 · The Bukhangang River Is Just 40 Minutes from Cheongnyangni
• Chuncheon: ITX Round Trip for Two KRW 39,200 · Ride the 2-Deck Train, Then Step Out onto a Glass Floor
• Yeongwol, 1-Night Trip: The 5 p.m. Train from Cheongnyangni for KRW 16,000, Then a Ferry Boat to Danjong's Cheongnyeongpo
• Jeongseon: The Weekend Train to the Ferry Crossing Where a Pair of Lovers Kept Apart by Rain Gave Rise to the Song Arirang
• Asan: Train Round Trip for Two KRW 28,000 · Dinner at the Mediterranean Village at the End of the Ginkgo Road

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