History
홈

History

Based on the know-how and expertise accumulated
over its 130 years of experience in railway operation, KORAIL strives to become one of the world’s best railway operators.
2020 ~ 2039
2020 KORAIL photo

  1. 2024

    • May. 23
      Selected as an operator for GTX-B operation & maintenance
      • Undertaking the entire GTX-B Line (Incheon – Maseok) opening in 2030
    • Apr. 01
      Celebration of the 20th anniversary of KTX

  2. 2023

    • Dec. 29
      Extended Jungang Line (KTX-EUM to Seoul Station) and Jungbunaeryuk Line (KTX-EUM to Pangyo Station)
    • Dec. 16
      Extended Gyeongwon Line of Metro Line 1 from Soyosan Station to Yeoncheon Station
    • Aug. 31
      Surpassed KTX passenger over 1 billion
    • Aug. 25
      Named ‘ITX-MAUM’ for EMU-150
    • Jul. 01
      Started operation of double-track Seohae Line between Daegok and Sosa
    • Jun. 26
      Acquired ISO 27001 International standard for information security management system
    • May. 25
      Signed O&M consulting project for MRT-7 in Manila, Philippines contract
      • (Project Period: April 2023 – December 2026 / Cost: 17.3 billion KRW)
    • Feb. 28
      Signed consulting project for improvement of Myanmar railway from Mandalay to Myitkyina contract
      • (Project Period: January 2023 – March 2027) / Cost: 10.2 billion KRW

  3. 2022

    • Nov. 22
      Received ‘Eurasian Transportation Excellence Award’ at the 31st Eurasian Transport Coordination Council (CCTT) General Assembly
    • Nov. 17
      Elected as the Chair of International Union of Railways (UIC) Asia-Pacific Regional Assembly
    • Sep. 20
      Surpassed KTX passenger over 900 million
    • Jul. 19
      Succeeded in Phase 3 Trial Run of long freight train
      • (Phase 1) March 30, 2022: Trial run from Busan Newport to Jinrye (21.3 km)
      • (Phase 2) April 28, 2022: Trial run from Busan Newport to Gacheon (98.4 km)
      • (Phase 3) July 19, 2022: Trial run from Obong t0 Busan Newport (402.3 km)
    • Jul. 04
      Awarded railway project of 15 billion KRW in Tanzania
    • Jan. 05
      Ground breaking ceremony for Gangneung-Jejin railway construction
      • Construction of 111.74km Donghae Line between Namgangneung Signal Station to Jejin Station

  4. 2021

    • Dec. 31
      Opened Jungbunaeryuk Line (Icheon – Chungju) for KTX
      • Construction of 111.74km Donghae Line between Namgangneung Signal Station to Jejin Station
    • Dec. 28
      Opened Donghae Metro Line Phase 2 (Ilgwang – Taehwagang)
      • Opened double-track Donghae Line (Taehwagang – Singyeongju)
      • Opened double-track Jungang Line (Yeongcheon – Singyeongju)
    • Apr. 14
      Implement of ESG management with the issuarance of 300 billion KRW in Green Bonds
    • Jan. 5
      Opened the double-track Jungang Line (commencement of KTX-EUM service)

  5. 2020

    • Dec. 17
      Opened the Yeongju-Andong (Mureung) section of the double-track Jungang Line, Opened the new Andong Station
    • Dec. 14
      Opened the Danyang-Yeongju section of the double-track Jungang Line
    • Dec. 11
      Obtained ISO 22301 (Business Continuity Management System) 강조ISO22301 : An international standard that prescribes the necessary requirements for business continuity management. It certifies an organisation’s ability to recover from business disruption caused by a disaster or accident within the shortest period of time.
    • Sep. 12
      Opened all sections between Suwon Station and Incheon Station of Suin Line (reopened in 25 years since closing in 1995)
      • Phase 1 : Opened in Jun. 2012 (Songdo-Oido)
      • Phase 2 : Opened in Feb. 2016 (Songdo-Incheon)
      • Phase 3 : Opened in Sep. 2020 (Hanyang Univ. at Ansan-Suwon)
      • Hanyang Univ. at Ansan-Oido: the existing stations of Ansan Line
    • Mar. 02
      Commenced extended operation of KTX Gangneung Line to Donghae Station
Based on the know-how and expertise accumulated
over its 130 years of experience in railway operation, KORAIL strives to become one of the world’s best railway operators.
2000 ~ 2019
2000 KORAIL photo

  1. 2019

    • May. 8-12
      Hosted the 34th Meeting of the Conference of General Directors of the OSJD Railways in Seoul

  2. 2018

    • Dec. 13
      KTX ridership exceeded 700 million
    • Nov. 30
      KORAIL Train headed to North Korea for joint railway inspection for 18 days (Kaesong-Sinuiju, Mt. Kumgang-Tumen River)
    • Jun. 28
      Established the new Railway Day
    • Jun. 08
      ROK’s accession to the OSJD
    • Jan. 17
      Opened Gwangmyeong Station City Airport Terminal

  3. 2017

    • Dec. 22
      Opened the KTX Gangneung Line
    • Sep. 23
      KORAIL Symphony Orchestra performed with Hungary’s MAV Symphony Orchestra

  4. 2016

    • Sep. 24
      The Suin Line was extended westward from Songdo to Incheon
    • Feb. 24
      Opened the first Pangyo–Yeoju section (57 km) of the Gyeonggang Line

  5. 2015

    • Jul. 15
      The Eurasia Friendship Express embarked on its grand journey
    • May. 27
      Hosted the Conference of General Directors of the OSJD Railways and the Annual Meeting of OSJD Commission for Freight Transportation in Seoul

  6. 2014

    • Jun. 30
      Initiated Incheon Airport KTX service
    • May. 04
      Launched DMZ Train for tourists
    • Apr. 02
      Opened the Honam high-speed railway service
    • Jan. 25
      Test-run of 25 units of a new diesel locomotive

  7. 2013

    • Nov. 30
      Opened the final Mangpo–Suwon section (6.1 km) of the Bundang Line
    • Sep. 27
      Launched tourist train “S-train”
    • May. 30
      Established the Korean War & Railroad Memorial at Daejeon National Cemetery
    • Apr. 16
      Setting the record of 3 million kilometers of accident-free train driving (Park Byeong-deok)
    • Apr. 12
      Launched tourist trains “O-train” and “V-train”

  8. 2012

    • Nov. 12
      Appointed the first female Seoul stationmaster (Kim Yang-suk)
    • May. 16
      Delivered the next-generation high-speed train HEMU-430X
    • Feb. 28
      Launched Korea’s first double-decker semi-high-speed train (ITX-Cheongchun) on the Gyeongchun Line
    • Feb. 21
      KTX ridership exceeded 300 million

  9. 2011

    • Oct. 05
      Launched KTX service on the Jeolla Line

  10. 2010

    • Dec. 21
      Opened the electrified double-track Gyeongchun Line
    • Dec. 15
      Launched KTX service on the Gyeongjeon Line
    • Mar. 02
      Launched KTX-Sancheon service

  11. 2009

    • Dec. 19
      KTX ridership exceeded 200 million

  12. 2008

    • Nov. 25
      Delivered the locally-built high-speed train KTX-II (KTX-Sancheon)
    • May. 19
      Hosted the World Congress on Railway Research (WCRR 2008) and the UIC General Assembly

  13. 2007

    • Dec. 11
      Launched regular freight train service on the Musan-Bongdong section of the Gyeongui Line
    • May. 17
      Test-run on the railway connecting South and North Korea
    • Apr. 21
      KTX ridership exceeded 100 million

  14. 2006

    • Dec. 08
      Opening ceremony of the electrified Gyeongbu Line
    • Sep. 01
      Launched SMS ticketing service

  15. 2005

    • Jan. 01
      Founded KORAIL (Korea Railroad Corporation)

  16. 2004

    • Dec. 16
      Successful test-run of a locally-built high-speed train at 350 km/hr
    • Apr. 01
      Opened the Gyeongbu high-speed railway
    • Mar. 30
      Opening ceremony of the 1st phase of the Gyeongbu high-speed railway (at Seoul Station)
    • Mar. 24
      Completion ceremony of the electrified double-track Honam Line and the commencement of high-speed train service (at Mokpo Station)
Based on the know-how and expertise accumulated
over its 130 years of experience in railway operation, KORAIL strives to become one of the world’s best railway operators.
1980 ~ 1999
1980's KORAIL photo

  1. 1999

    • Sep. 18
      The 100th anniversary of Korean railway

  2. 1992

    • Jun. 30
      Groundbreaking ceremony for the Gyeongbu high-speed railway

  3. 1988

    • Jan. 26
      Opened the Railroad Museum (in Uiwang, Gyeonggi Province)

  4. 1987

    • Jul. 06
      Opening ceremony of the Saemaeul push-pull train service

  5. 1981

    • Oct. 01
      Launched electronic ticketing service for the Saemaeul train

  6. 1980

    • Apr. 10
      Opening ceremony of the locally-built Saemaeul train service
Based on the know-how and expertise accumulated
over its 130 years of experience in railway operation, KORAIL strives to become one of the world’s best railway operators.
1960 ~ 1979
1960's KORAIL photo

  1. 1979

    • Sep. 18
      Launched the first locally-built diesel locomotives

  2. 1974

    • Aug. 15
      Opened the Seoul Metropolitan Subway (Seoul–Suwon, Guro–Incheon, Yongsan–Seongbuk)

  3. 1973

    • Jun. 20
      Opening ceremony of the Jungang Subway Line (Cheongnyani–Jecheon)

  4. 1967

    • Aug. 31
      Discontinuation ceremony of steam locomotive train service (at Seoul Station)

  5. 1963

    • Sep. 01
      Established the Korea National Railroad under the Ministry of Transportation
Based on the know-how and expertise accumulated
over its 130 years of experience in railway operation, KORAIL strives to become one of the world’s best railway operators.
1940 ~ 1959
1940's KORAIL photo

  1. 1956

    • Jan. 16
      Opening ceremony of the Yeongam Line (at Dongjeom Station)

  2. 1950

    • Jul. 19
      Locomotive engineer Kim Jae-hyun’s death in a rescue operation of Major General William F. Dean

  3. 1946

    • May. 20
      Launched the Haebangja (Gyeongbu Line express train)

  4. 1943

    • May. 15
      Opened the Jungang Line (Cheongnyangni–Gyeongju)
Based on the know-how and expertise accumulated
over its 130 years of experience in railway operation, KORAIL strives to become one of the world’s best railway operators.
1920 ~ 1939
1920's KORAIL photo
Based on the know-how and expertise accumulated
over its 130 years of experience in railway operation, KORAIL strives to become one of the world’s best railway operators.
1900 ~ 1919
1900's KORAIL photo

  1. 1911

    • Jan. 11
      Opened the Honam Line (Daejeon–Mokpo)

  2. 1905

    • Jan. 01
      Opened the Gyeongbu Line (Yeongdeungpo–Choryang)

  3. 1900

    • Nov. 12
      Opening ceremony of the Gyeongin Line (at Gyeongseong Station)
    • Jul. 08
      Opened the entire section of the Gyeongin Line (Gyeongseon–Incheon)
Based on the know-how and expertise accumulated
over its 130 years of experience in railway operation, KORAIL strives to become one of the world’s best railway operators.
~ 1894
1900 KORAIL photo

  1. 1899

    • Sep. 18
      Opened Noryangjin–Incheon section of the Gyeongin Line

  2. 1897

    • Mar. 22
      Ground-breaking ceremony for the 1st phase of the Gyeongin Line (in Ugak-ri, Incheon)

  3. 1894

    • Jun. 28

      (Lunar calendar)
      Establishment of the Korean Empire Railway Bureau