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Since its launch in 2004, Korea’s high-speed trains have significantly transformed daily life by making nationwide travel possible within half a day. On weekdays, they served as a reliable means of saving time during commutes, and on weekends, they became companions for leisure travel, transporting approximately 100 million passengers annually. High-speed trains firmly established themselves as a leading mode of transportation in Korea and continued to evolve. br br The KTX, Korea’s first high-speed train, was introduced in 2004. It was developed through technology transfer from companies, including France’s Alstom. Designed as a power-concentrated system, it operated at a top commercial speed of 305 km/h and accommodated up to 955 passengers. br br The KTX-SANCHEON, which followed the KTX, began service in 2010. It was the world’s fourth power-concentrated high-speed train developed entirely with domestic technology, from design to production. It offered between 379 and 410 seats and reached a maximum commercial speed of 305 km/h. br br The SRT was a high-speed train operated by the public corporation SR and was launched in 2016. SR steered a new era of competition in Korea’s high-speed rail sector and contributed to the improvement of railway services. The train operates from Suseo Station in Gangnam, Seoul, and runs on five lines: the Gyeongbu, Honam, Gyeongjeon, Donghae, and Jeolla Lines. br br The KTX-EUM, deployed in 2021, was developed with a distributed traction system, taking into account the geographical characteristics of Korea. Even if issues occur in some cars, the train can continue to operate using the distributed power system located beneath each passenger car. It offered 381 seats and a top commercial speed of 260 km/h. br br The KTX-CHEONGRYONG introduced in 2024, was a next-generation distributed traction system high-speed train developed entirely with domestic technology. It boasted the highest commercial speed in Korea at 320 km/h and seated 515 passengers. It entered service on major routes such as the Gyeongbu and Honam lines. br br From the launch of the KTX in 2004 to the debut of the KTX-CHEONGRYONG in 2024, Korea’s high-speed rail has journeyed through a path of technological localization and service diversification. Evolving from power-concentrated to distributed traction systems and from speeds of 305 km/h to 320 km/h, these trains did more than just reduce travel time, they also fostered economic, social, and cultural exchanges between regions, expanding the scope of daily life. Each of Korea’s high-speed trains continues to play a vital role in tightly connecting the national rail network with its own unique strengths. br br