Which country operates the KTX high-speed train service?

South Korea operates the KTX high-speed train service.

KTX, short for Korea Train Express, is South Korea’s national high-speed rail service. Passenger operations began in April 2004, initially using technology derived from France’s TGV system. The first major route connected Seoul with Busan, South Korea’s second-largest city.

KTX trains run on dedicated high-speed lines as well as upgraded conventional railway tracks. This mixed infrastructure allows services to reach cities that are not directly connected by a fully separate high-speed line. KTX service has helped reduce travel times across the Korean Peninsula and has become a major alternative to domestic flights.

South Korea is sometimes confused with North Korea when discussing Korean railways, but the KTX network is operated by South Korea. Korea Train Express is the service name, while Korail is the principal railway operator associated with it.