TL;DR — what to know before you book
- Online payment is the weak spot. Since 24 February 2026, Kobus (kobus.co.kr) lets non-members pay only with Toss Pay or Naver Pay; typing in a card number is no longer offered. Korean media reported in July that foreign-issued cards would work from August, but Kobus's notices (the latest dated 22 September) do not confirm it. Treat it as unconfirmed.
- The terminal ticket window is the safest bet. Foreign cards have been accepted at bus terminal windows since July 2024. Backups: Klook, and Bustago (reported to take foreign cards). Tmoney GO works only with Korean-issued cards.
- Fares rose about 9% on 1 October 2026. Seoul to Busan starts at ₩29,100 (standard) and ₩43,300 (excellent). Seoul has three terminals, so check which one your bus leaves from.
Express Bus vs KTX
Seoul to Busan. Bus fares are approximate, from 1 October 2026.
| Option | Fare from | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| KTX (train) | ₩54,400 | Fastest. Standard class, after the 1 Sept 2026 fare cut. See our KTX guide. |
| Express bus, standard (일반) | ₩29,100 | Cheapest, but slower than KTX. |
| Express bus, excellent (우등) | ₩43,300 | 2+1 seating. |
| Express bus, premium (프리미엄) | ₩56,200 | 2+1 seating, wider seats. About the same price as KTX standard. |
Late-night departures cost more than the fares shown. Direct express buses also run to Gyeongju, Jeonju and Gangneung (see the fare table below).
Express Bus Terminals in Seoul
Seoul has several departure points, and the same city can be served from more than one. Read the terminal name on your ticket.
Seoul Express Bus Terminal
서울고속버스터미널
Subway: Express Bus Terminal Station (고속터미널역), Lines 3, 7 and 9
Routes: Gyeongbu line (for example Busan, Daegu, Gyeongju) and Yeongdong line (for example Gangneung)
Routes: Gyeongbu line (for example Busan, Daegu, Gyeongju) and Yeongdong line (for example Gangneung)
Central City Terminal
센트럴시티
Subway: same station, Express Bus Terminal Station, Lines 3, 7 and 9
Routes: Honam line (for example Gwangju, Jeonju)
Routes: Honam line (for example Gwangju, Jeonju)
Dong Seoul Bus Terminal
동서울버스터미널
Subway: Gangbyeon Station (강변역), Line 2
Routes: mainly Gangwon (Sokcho, Chuncheon, Gangneung), plus some Busan, Dongdaegu and Gwangju services
A redevelopment is reported to start as early as late 2026 (Etoday). We found no confirmed relocation date, so check before you go.
Routes: mainly Gangwon (Sokcho, Chuncheon, Gangneung), plus some Busan, Dongdaegu and Gwangju services
A redevelopment is reported to start as early as late 2026 (Etoday). We found no confirmed relocation date, so check before you go.
Check the departure terminal in your booking before you head out. Gangneung and Gwangju, for example, are served from two different Seoul terminals.
Booking on Kobus
Based on Kobus's own pages. We could not run a full guest checkout with a foreign card ourselves.
1
Open kobus.co.kr and choose a language
Use the Language menu at the top of the page (Korean, English, Chinese, Japanese). There is no separate en.kobus.co.kr site.
2
Search your route, date and time
Pick departure and arrival, the date and a departure time. Class (standard, excellent, premium) changes the fare.
3
Choose a class and a seat
Excellent (우등) and premium (프리미엄) buses have 2+1 seating, and premium seats are wider. Standard (일반) is the base class. Pick your seat on the seat map.
4
Pay
As a non-member you can pay online with Toss Pay or Naver Pay only. See the next section for foreign cards and backups.
5
Collect your ticket
For a simple-pay booking, enter your phone number plus birth date (6 digits) or departure date (8 digits) at a ticket window or kiosk. For a card booking, bring the card you paid with, or the mobile ticket or home ticket. We found no Kobus source for an emailed QR code, so do not rely on one. Kobus does not say whether a non-Korean phone number is accepted; we could not confirm it.
Paying: What Works Now
Status on 25 October 2026. Sources in brackets.
| Method | Status |
|---|---|
| Kobus website, typed card number (non-member) | Stopped on 24 Feb 2026 (Kobus notice 20260224001). |
| Kobus website, Toss Pay or Naver Pay (non-member) | The only non-member online options (same notice). We did not test whether they accept a foreign card. |
| Kobus website, foreign-issued card (non-member) | Reported to start in August 2026 (Korea Herald and The Star, 1 July 2026). Kobus's notices, the latest dated 22 Sept 2026, do not confirm it, and its payment guide does not mention foreign cards. One third-party blog (toyoni, 26 Sept) says it is live. It may be declined. |
| Terminal ticket window | Foreign-issued cards accepted since July 2024. The Ministry of Land reported all intercity bus routes on foreign cards from 31 July 2024. |
| Tmoney GO app | Korean-issued cards only (Korea Herald, 1 July 2026). |
| Bustago | Reported to accept foreign cards with 3-D Secure (Visa, Mastercard, Amex) (MTN, 7 Oct 2026). No start date given. |
| Klook | Kobus's English home page carries a Klook banner (klook.com/korea-bus). Fares and refund rules are Klook's own. |
Plan for the web payment to fail. Know your backup (terminal window, Klook or Bustago) before you queue. See also Foreign Cards in Korea.
At the Terminal and on the Bus
Before departure
- Same-day tickets: on the Kobus website you can book until 1 hour before departure. At weekends and holiday periods, book ahead.
- Luggage: large bags usually go in the hold under the bus. Keep valuables with you.
- Seats are assigned. Sit in the seat number on your ticket.
Rest stops (휴게소)
Longer routes usually stop once at a highway rest area (휴게소) for a short break. The driver announces the time to return, usually in Korean only. Note the clock time and set a phone alarm. Buses leave on schedule.
- Rest areas usually have toilets, a convenience store and food stalls.
Major Routes & Fares
Approximate fares from 1 October 2026, after the 9% increase (Kobus notice 20260922001). Compiled from a third-party aggregator (asamaru, 20–22 Oct 2026), so check Kobus for the exact fare. Times are approximate.
| Route | Time (approx.) | Standard (일반) | Excellent (우등) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seoul → Busan | see timetable | ₩29,100 | ₩43,300 |
| Seoul → Daegu (Dongdaegu) | 3 h 47 min | ₩22,100 | ₩32,700 |
| Seoul → Gwangju | 3 h 41 min | ₩22,700 | ₩33,500 |
| Seoul → Jeonju | 2 h 56 min | ₩16,400 | ₩22,000 |
| Seoul → Gangneung | 2 h 47 min | — | ₩26,800 |
| Seoul → Gyeongju | 3 h 46 min | ₩24,700 | ₩36,700 |
— Gangneung (Seoul Express) has no standard class. Premium (프리미엄) Seoul → Busan starts at ₩56,200.
Excellent over standard costs about ₩14,200 more to Busan, ₩10,800 more to Gwangju and ₩5,600 more to Jeonju. It is worth considering on the longer routes.
Refunds on Kobus
Kobus fee schedule, revised 1 May 2025. Klook and Bustago follow their own rules.
| When you cancel | Fee (Mon–Thu / Fri–Sun / holiday periods) |
|---|---|
| Up to 2 days before departure | 0% |
| 1 day to 3 hours before | 5% / 7.5% / 10% |
| Less than 3 hours before | 10% / 15% / 20% |
| After departure, before scheduled arrival | 60% (rate for May 2026 to April 2027) |
| After scheduled arrival | 100% |
Common Mistakes to Avoid
✕ Going to the wrong Seoul terminal
Express Bus Terminal, Central City and Dong Seoul are different places. Check the departure terminal on your booking.
✕ Having no payment backup
A foreign card may be declined on the website. Keep the terminal window, Klook or Bustago as plan B.
✕ Booking late for a weekend or holiday
Seats fill up at peak times. Book ahead. Same-day web sales close 1 hour before departure.
✕ Missing the rest-stop departure
The return time is announced, usually in Korean. Note the time and set an alarm.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Ticket windows at Korean bus terminals have accepted foreign-issued cards since July 2024, which makes the window the most dependable option. Show your destination and departure time on your phone, and keep some Korean won as a backup.
Yes, through the Language menu at the top of kobus.co.kr (Korean, English, Chinese, Japanese). There is no separate en.kobus.co.kr site. Language is not the problem; payment is. Since February 2026, non-members can pay online only with Toss Pay or Naver Pay.
Not confirmed. Kobus stopped non-member card-number entry on 24 February 2026. Korea Herald and The Star reported on 1 July 2026 that foreign-issued cards would be accepted from August, and a third-party blog says it is live, but Kobus's notices through 22 September 2026 do not mention it. If it fails, use the terminal window, Klook or Bustago.
고속버스 (express bus) links major cities, mainly on expressways, from terminals such as Seoul Express Bus Terminal and Central City. 시외버스 (intercity bus) serves a wider range of towns, often with more stops. Fares for both rose about 9% on 1 October 2026.
Excellent (우등) and premium (프리미엄) both have 2+1 seating, and premium seats are wider. On Seoul to Busan, excellent costs about ₩14,200 more than standard, and premium (from ₩56,200) costs about the same as KTX standard (₩54,400). Excellent is worth considering on routes of three hours or more.
Kobus charges no fee up to two days before departure. From one day to three hours before, the fee is 5% to 10% depending on the day; less than three hours before, 10% to 20%. After departure the fee is 60% until the scheduled arrival time (rate for May 2026 to April 2027) and 100% after that. Klook and Bustago follow their own rules.