The distance between Seoul and Gwangju is around 291km (181 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to take the train which takes around 2hrs.
We've found 5 different ways to get from Seoul to Gwangju by train, bus and car. The recommended routes, which include information on duration, ticket price, and level of difficulty, can be found below.
👋 Also check out Gwangju → Seoul if you're planning a return trip.
Take the train to Gwangju Songjeong Station.
1 similiar route
We’ve grouped similar routes together, click the arrows to see the other options.
Take the bus to Gwangju.
Ko Bus
1 similiar route
We’ve grouped similar routes together, click the arrows to see the other options.
There are several options for getting from Seoul to Gwangju by train, bus and car. The cheapest option is to take the bus which costs around ₩28,830 ($22) and will take around 3h 20m. If you need to get there more quickly, you can take the train and arrive in approximately 2hrs, though it is a bit more costly at approximately ₩38,005 ($29).
The distance between Seoul and Gwangju is around 291km (181 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 268km (166 miles)
It takes around 2hrs to get from Seoul and Gwangju by train. If you are travelling by car it will take around 3h 10m to drive there.
The quickest way to get from Seoul to Gwangju is to take the train which takes around 2hrs and will set you back approx ₩38,005 ($29).
The cheapest way to travel between Seoul and Gwangju, if you exclude driving, is to take the bus which will typically cost around ₩28,830 ($22) for a standard one-way ticket.
Yes there is a train service that runs between Seoul and Gwangju. It typically takes around 2hrs and departs hourly.
There are no direct train services that runs from Seoul to Gwangju. However, you can instead can take several connecting trains with a changeover in Yongsan Station. These services run hourly and will take a minimum of 2hrs.
Korail, Korail Mugunghwa and Suseo High Speed Railway run train services between Seoul and Gwangju. Trains depart hourly and will take around 2hrs, however, this may vary depending on the particular service and whether it runs express or stops all stations.
Yes there is a bus that runs regularly from Seoul and Gwangju. It typically takes around 3h 20m and departs every 20 mins.
Yes there is a direct bus service that runs between Seoul and Gwangju with no changeovers required. The bus runs every 20 mins and takes 3h 20m.
Ko Bus, Easy Ticket and TxBus run regular bus services between Seoul and Gwangju. Buses run every 20 mins and take around 3h 20m on average but will vary depending on you book with.
It doesn't look like you can fly directly from Seoul to Gwangju. We recommend that you take the train to Gwangju Songjeong Station. instead which will take 2hrs.
The closest major airport to Gwangju is Gwangju Airport (KWJ) (KWJ) which is approximately 4km (3 miles) from Gwangju. Daegu International Airport (TAE) (TAE) and Cheongju International Airport (CJJ) (CJJ) are also nearby and might be a better alternative airport depending on where you are flying from.
Yes it is possible to drive from Seoul and Gwangju. The distance is around 293km (182 miles) by road and it will take around 3h 10m in normal traffic conditons.
If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from Seoul to Gwangju is to take the train which takes, on average, 2hrs and will usually cost around ₩38,005 ($29).
Transport option | Duration | Cost | Frequency | Distance |
---|---|---|---|---|
Train + 1 similar | 2hrs | ₩38,005($29) | hourly | 310km (192 miles) |
Train to Gwangju Songjeong Station | 2h 5m | ₩40,625($31) | hourly | 300km (186 miles) |
Bus + 1 similar | 3h 20m | ₩28,830($22) | every 20 mins | 291km (181 miles) |
Bus via Gunsan | 4h 30m | ₩38,005($29) | every 30 mins | 317km (197 miles) |
Drive | 3h 10m | ₩47,175($36) | on demand | 293km (182 miles) |
Ko Bus
Easy Ticket
TxBus
Suseo High Speed Railway
Jin Air
Asiana Airlines
The following major airports near Gwangju offer regular flights to various popular destinations within South Korea and internationally.