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Expanded Stops Confirmed for Bujeon–Cheongnyangni KTX-Eum, Including Shin-Haeundae, Centum, and Gijang Stations

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Busan Metropolitan City (Mayor Park Heong-joon) announced that Shin-Haeundae Station, Centum Station, and Gijang Station have been finally confirmed as additional stops on the Jungang Line (Cheongnyangni–Bujeon) KTX-Eum service, following the announcement made yesterday (December 15) by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport.

Starting December 30, KTX-Eum high-speed trains operating between Bujeon Station in Busan and Cheongnyangni Station in Seoul will stop at these stations, significantly improving Busan citizens’ access to the Seoul metropolitan area.

According to the confirmed operation plan, Jungang Line KTX-Eum trains will stop at Shin-Haeundae Station eight times a day, and at Centum Station and Gijang Station twice a day each.

As a result, the total number of daily Jungang Line (Bujeon–Cheongnyangni) KTX-Eum services will increase substantially from six to eighteen (nine in each direction). In addition, with the completion of signal system upgrades on the Andong–Yeongcheon section, travel time between Busan and Seoul will be reduced by approximately 18 minutes, from 3 hours and 56 minutes to 3 hours and 38 minutes.

This will allow residents of eastern Busan areas, including Haeundae-gu and Gijang-gun, to travel to Seoul by high-speed rail from stations near their homes without having to travel long distances to Busan Station.

At the same time, six daily KTX-Eum services will be newly introduced on the Donghae Line (Bujeon–Gangneung), opening up a three-hour living sphere between Busan and the Gangwon region.

Following the opening of the Donghae Line (Bujeon–Gangneung) section in January, ITX-Maeum services have been in operation; now, KTX-Eum trains will be newly added with six daily services (three in each direction).

With the introduction of KTX-Eum, travel time on the Bujeon–Gangneung section will be significantly reduced from 5 hours and 4 minutes on the existing ITX-Maeum service to 3 hours and 54 minutes. This marks the completion of a wide-area transportation network connecting the East Coast regions from Busan to Gangneung, and is expected to greatly contribute to increased tourism demand and regional development.

This achievement is the result of Busan Metropolitan City’s sustained and multifaceted efforts to dramatically improve regional transportation accessibility in the southeastern region by expanding KTX-Eum stops.

Since 2021, the City has continuously requested the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and Korail to recognize the necessity of additional KTX-Eum stops and expanded operations on the Jungang and Donghae Lines.

The City presented plans to improve accessibility in eastern Busan centered on Bujeon Station, strengthen connectivity among urban railways, metropolitan railways, and the national rail network, and emphasized that expanding KTX-Eum stops would significantly contribute to balanced regional development in the southeastern region.

In particular, the driving force behind the government’s decision to designate new stops on the Jungang Line and introduce new services on the Donghae Line was not only the City’s efforts, but also the comprehensive promotional activities carried out jointly by eastern Busan local governments—such as Haeundae-gu and Gijang-gun—and local residents. This achievement is evaluated as a major success realized through public-private collaboration.

The expansion of KTX-Eum stops is expected to serve as a key catalyst for enhancing the efficiency of the Busan metropolitan rail network, while also promoting growth in the regional tourism industry and revitalizing the local economy, thereby strengthening Busan’s overall competitiveness.

With KTX-Eum trains stopping at Shin-Haeundae Station and Centum Station in Haeundae-gu, and at Gijang Station in Gijang-gun, an increase is anticipated in tourist and business visitors from the Seoul metropolitan area to the Haeundae area and the Osiria Tourism Complex.

Mayor Park Heong-joon stated, “This decision is a meaningful achievement that our City and the City Council accomplished together, reflecting the long-standing aspirations of Busan citizens.” He added, “It will serve as an important opportunity to expand Busan’s daily living sphere not only to the Seoul metropolitan area but also to the Gyeongbuk and Gangwon regions, and to establish a core transportation axis linking tourism and industry as Busan advances toward becoming a global hub city.”

He continued, “Going forward, the City will consult with the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and Korail to request further expansion of stopping frequencies based on passenger demand, and will strengthen connecting transportation networks to ensure maximum convenience for citizens.”