Step Off the Train Onto the Sea: 7 Small Towns by KTX-Eum from 50 Minutes, Jeongdongjin Included — One Way from About KRW 10,000

Wonju is 50 min and Andong is 2 hr from Cheongnyangni Station

The KTX-Eum is a 6-car high-speed train with a top speed of 260 km/h. It first ran on the Cheongnyangni–Andong section in 2021, and now runs on the Jungang Line (Cheongnyangni–Wonju–Jecheon–Danyang–Yeongju–Andong–Bujeon), the Gangneung Line (Cheongnyangni–Gangneung, Jeongdongjin, Donghae) and the Jungbu Naeryuk Line (Pangyo–Chungju–Mungyeong).^[17][9]

The Jungang Line was fully linked by high-speed rail from Cheongnyangni to Busan Bujeon on December 20, 2024, and from December 30, 2025, more KTX-Eum started running on the Jungang and Gangneung lines.^[10][9] The times and fares below are what the unofficial timetable site Asamaru shows for Monday, October 12, 2026. The number of trains changes with the day of the week and the date, so check Korail once more before you buy a ticket.^[1][5]

1. Wonju: The Closest KTX-Eum City, Just 50 Min Away

The KTX-Eum from Cheongnyangni to Wonju Station takes 48–57 min and runs 9 a day on Mondays. Standard class is 10,100 KRW. The same route also has 5 a day by ITX-Maum (9,100 KRW) and 6 a day by Mugunghwa (6,200 KRW), so along with Jecheon it has 20 a day in total, the most of any city in this article.^[1]

Many travelers head to Sogeumsan Grand Valley after getting off in Wonju. It has a 200 m suspension bridge hanging 100 m in the air and a cable car, and it's described as within 20,000 KRW by taxi from Wonju Station.^[15]

• The last KTX-Eum back leaves Wonju at 19:14 and the last Mugunghwa at 21:43 (Monday).
• Sogeumsan Grand Valley was reported to be closed on Mondays. Check its operating days before you go.

2. Jecheon: 1 hr 10 min, a City of Lakes and Reservoirs

From Cheongnyangni to Jecheon Station, the KTX-Eum takes 1 hr 5 min to 1 hr 14 min, runs 9 a day and costs 15,400 KRW in standard class. Including the ITX-Maum (12,700 KRW) and Mugunghwa (9,200 KRW), there are 20 a day.^[2]

Jecheon is a rail junction where the Jungang, Chungbuk and Taebaek lines meet, so it's a good place to stop on the way to Danyang or Yeongwol. From the station, take a city bus or taxi toward Uirimji and Cheongpungho.^[2]

• The last trains from Jecheon leave at 18:57 (KTX-Eum), 19:25 (ITX-Maum) and 21:19 (Mugunghwa).
• Uirimji is close to downtown, but Cheongpungho is farther out, so a taxi or rental car is easier.

3. Danyang: 1 hr 20 min, a Trip to See Peaks Rising From the River

From Cheongnyangni to Danyang Station, the KTX-Eum takes 1 hr 20–29 min, runs 6 a day and costs 18,600 KRW in standard class. The ITX-Maum runs 4 a day, takes 1 hr 49–56 min and costs 14,900 KRW. Fewer trains stop here than at Wonju or Jecheon, so look at the timetable first before you plan your day.^[3]

In Danyang, most people head first to Dodamsambong, the three peaks rising from the middle of the Namhan River. It's about 8 km from Danyang Station across the river, so it's a distance you cover by bus or taxi rather than on foot.^[18]

• The last KTX-Eum from Danyang leaves at 17:15 and the last ITX-Maum at 19:07. If you plan to stay into the evening, book the ITX-Maum ticket first.
• Danyang Station is away from the town center. Before you get off, check bus times in a map app.

4. Yeongju: 1 hr 40 min, Where a World Heritage Temple and Academy Share the Map

From Cheongnyangni to Yeongju Station, the KTX-Eum takes 1 hr 37–49 min, runs 9 a day and costs 23,300 KRW in standard class. The ITX-Maum runs 4 a day, takes 2 hr 11–20 min and costs 18,100 KRW.^[4]

Yeongju has two UNESCO World Heritage sites: Buseoksa Temple, part of "Sansa, Buddhist Mountain Monasteries in Korea," and Sosuseowon Confucian Academy, part of "Seowon, Korean Neo-Confucian Academies." Both are away from downtown, so you get there by bus or taxi.^[13][14]

• The last KTX-Eum from Yeongju leaves at 18:30 and the last ITX-Maum at 18:43.
• To see both Buseoksa and Sosuseowon in one day, take a train that arrives early in the morning.

5. Andong: 2 hr, the City of Hahoe Village and Jjimdak

From Cheongnyangni to Andong Station, the KTX-Eum takes 1 hr 52 min to 2 hr 5 min and runs 9 a day on Monday and 10 on Saturday. Standard class is 27,700 KRW. The ITX-Maum runs 4 a day, takes 2 hr 33–42 min and costs 21,100 KRW, so you spend a bit more time but save 6,600 KRW.^[5]

Many travelers head to Hahoe Village first after getting off in Andong. In 2010, Hahoe became a UNESCO World Heritage site together with Yangdong Village in Gyeongju as the "Historic Villages of Korea." You can get there by city bus from the station, but the village is some distance away.^[12]

• The last KTX-Eum from Andong leaves at 18:14 and the last ITX-Maum at 18:22. If you're doing a day trip, be sure to remember the last train time.
• Many people have lunch at Jjimdak Alley in Andong Old Market. Some places have a minimum order of 2 servings, so ask before you go in.

City

Andong 1-Night 2-Day: 2-Hour KTX-Eum Ride from Cheongnyangni — Hahoe Village by Day, Lantern-Lit Woryeonggyo Bridge by Night

6. Chungju: 65 Min From Pangyo, With Only 4 KTX-Eum a Day

For Chungju, you take the Jungbu Naeryuk Line KTX-Eum from Pangyo Station, on the Gangnam side of Seoul. Pangyo–Chungju takes 1 hr 5 min and costs 12,300 KRW in standard class. But there are only 4 a day (leaving Pangyo at 08:22, 12:31, 16:45 and 20:56), so you have to fit your plans to the timetable.^[8]

The Jungbu Naeryuk Line was extended to Mungyeong on November 30, 2024, and within Chungju the train stops at Salmi and Suanbo Oncheon stations as well as Chungju Station. It takes 1 hr 33 min to Mungyeong on the same train.^[11][8] From Chungju Station, Tangeumdae, where the Namhan River meets the Dalcheon, is a good place to explore, and from Suanbo Oncheon Station you can look around the hot spring town.

• Trains from Chungju back to Pangyo leave four times, at 06:30, 10:52, 15:02 and 19:21.
• At Pangyo Station, transfer to the Shinbundang Line and you can ride straight through to Gangnam.

7. Jeongdongjin and Donghae: A Little Over 2 hr, and the Sea Is Right Outside the Train

Some Gangneung Line KTX-Eum trains continue past Gangneung to Jeongdongjin, Mukho and Donghae. Cheongnyangni–Jeongdongjin takes 1 hr 46–53 min (26,700 KRW) and Cheongnyangni–Donghae takes 2 hr 15–23 min (29,700 KRW). On Mondays there are 5 a day, and on Saturdays Donghae-bound trains go up to 8 a day.^[7][6]

Jeongdongjin Station is known as a station where you can see the beach right from the platform.^[16] In Donghae, you can get off one stop earlier at Mukho Station and walk Nongol-damgil on the hill behind Mukho Port, or go south from Donghae Station to Chuam Chotdae Rock.^[6]

• The last KTX-Eum to Cheongnyangni leaves Donghae at 21:32 and leaves Jeongdongjin at 22:00.
• The KTX-Eum trains that go only as far as Gangneung run 17 a day, so if you miss the Donghae-bound train, you can get off at Gangneung and continue by bus or taxi.

City

Donghae, 2h20 on the KTX-Eum: an emerald lake born from a 40-year cement quarry

Cities worth visiting with this guide

• Wonju: 50 Minutes by Train from Cheongnyangni, a 100-Meter Suspension Bridge Hanging in Midair — Train and Entry for 1 People, KRW 43,000
• Jecheon: 70 Minutes by KTX from Cheongnyangni, Then a Cable Car and a 222-Meter Suspension Bridge Across the Lake
• Danyang: 80 Minutes by KTX from Cheongnyangni, a 80-Meter Skywalk and a 617-Meter Suspension Bridge over the River
• Yeongju: 1h 40min by KTX from Cheongnyangni, Then Cross the Single-Log Bridge to Museom, the Village on the Water
• Andong 1-Night 2-Day: 2-Hour KTX-Eum Ride from Cheongnyangni — Hahoe Village by Day, Lantern-Lit Woryeonggyo Bridge by Night
• Chungju: 65 Minutes by KTX from Pangyo to Akeobong, the Ridge Where Crocodiles Seem to Crawl Down to the Lake
• Donghae: 2h 20min on the KTX-Eum from Cheongnyangni, an Emerald Lake Born from a 40-Year Cement Quarry

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