KORAIL TOURISM DEVELOPMENT Co., Ltd.

What KORAIL TOURISM DEVELOPMENT Co., Ltd. does

KORAIL TOURISM DEVELOPMENT Co., Ltd. is a Seoul-headquartered tour operator and wholly-owned subsidiary of Korea Railroad Corporation (Korail), a state-owned enterprise of South Korea. Founded in 2004 and operating under the DBA 'Korail Travel' (korailtravel.com), the company packages and sells rail-based tourism products to domestic and international travelers, leveraging exclusive access to Korail's rail infrastructure, special train operations, and station counter network. Its offering spans KTX/SRT/ITX/Mugunghwa ticketing, regionally packaged tours, four railbike sites (Jeongseon, Jeongdongjin, Gokseong, Cheongdo), and curated thematic experiences including DMZ tours, Rail Cruise Ha Rang, sports trains, temple stays, and the Kkumdori Science Train.

The company runs a hybrid direct-to-consumer / channel model. Consumer-facing sales occur through its own e-commerce platform, a 1544-7755 call center, and station counters. Day-trip products are priced from approximately ₩39,600 to ₩239,000 per person, multi-day tours ₩269,000 to ₩690,000, and premium signature tours can exceed ₩1,000,000. Effective consumer pricing is materially reduced by co-funding from the Ministry of Unification and a wide network of provincial and municipal partners (Gangwon Tourism Foundation, Gyeongbuk Province, Andong, Jecheon, Okcheon, Buyeo, Yesan, Jeonju, Daejeon, Paju, Gyeonggi-do, among others), plus Korail's own 50% fare discount on routes serving depopulating areas. In January 2025 the company launched the KORAIL Travel Mall, a B2B platform granting free 2026 access to 16 selected small and medium overseas travel agencies, formalizing a channel expansion aimed at reducing its dependency on third-party OTAs. No proprietary AI, data, or software differentiation is disclosed; the technology layer is a standard transactional e-commerce stack layered on top of Korail's rail booking infrastructure.

Name

KORAIL TOURISM DEVELOPMENT Co., Ltd.

Legal name

KORAIL TOURISM DEVELOPMENT Co., Ltd.

Website

https://korailtravel.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

KORAIL TOURISM DEVELOPMENT is a Seoul-based, wholly-owned subsidiary of state-owned Korea Railroad Corporation that packages and sells rail-based tours, train tickets, and a four-site railbike network to domestic and international travelers across South Korea.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Rail Tourism Services

NAICS

Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation, Land (48711), Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation (487), Support Activities for Rail Transportation (4882)

SIC

Transportation Services (4700), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Rail Journey Package Tour Operators (THAKADAN)

akta.pro secondary industries

Luxury/Tourist Scenic Intercity Rail Operators (THAIAAAF), Rail & Intercity Bus Booking Engines (THALADAD), Transportation & Access Services (Shuttles, Ferry Access, Scenic Drives Permits) (THAAAGAC)

Keywords

• Rail tourism services
• Train travel packages
• KTX tour packages
• Railbike attractions
• DMZ tourism

Headquarters

HQ city

Seoul

HQ country

South Korea

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Tour Package Sales: KORAIL Tourism Development generates revenue through selling packaged rail tours that include train tickets, transportation, meals, accommodations, and activity admissions. The company operates an e-commerce platform where customers book and pay for travel products directly.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

KORAIL TOURISM DEVELOPMENT sells rail-based tour packages and train tickets across South Korea, operating a booking platform (korailtravel.com) for KTX/SRT high-speed trains and conventional trains, complemented by themed tours (DMZ, temple stay, sports, science), rail bike attractions at four locations, premium rail cruise experiences, and customized group/corporate itineraries. The company bundles transportation, accommodations, meals, and activities into all-inclusive travel products distributed via its own e-commerce site, call center, station counters, and a B2B Travel Mall for resellers.

Product overview

KORAIL TOURISM DEVELOPMENT operates a comprehensive train-based travel platform offering train ticket booking and curated tour packages across Korea. The core offering centers on the 기차여행 (Train Travel) platform for KTX, SRT, ITX, and Mugunghwa train bookings. The product portfolio includes regional travel packages organized by destination (Seoul/Gyeonggi/Gangwon, Daejeon/Chungcheong, Daegu/Busan/Ulsan, Gwangju/Jeolla, islands); specialized niche tours such as DMZ tours (English and Korean), Sports trains combining K-League matches and park golf, Temple Stay cultural experiences, Science Train (꿈돌이과학열차) for families, and 놀숲패스 forest tourism passes; premium offerings like Rail Cruise Ha Rang, KTX East Sea Signature Tours with luxury accommodations, and Southern Region multi-day island tours; plus custom/group travel services. The company also operates the 전국통합 레일바이크 (National Rail Bike) network at four locations and provides foreigner-specific English-language tour options.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• 레일크루즈 해랑: Rail cruise train service brand operated by KORAIL TOURISM DEVELOPMENT

Products and services

• Train Travel Platform (기차여행) KORAIL's core train ticket booking platform that allows users to search and book tickets for KTX/SRT high-speed trains and conventional trains (ITX, Mugunghwa) across South Korea.
• Regional Travel Packages (지역별여행)

Named customers1 record

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Small and Medium Overseas Travel AgenciescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2025KORAIL Tourism Development's 2025 Online Platform Entry Support Project invites small and medium overseas travel agencies to access KORAIL's Travel Mall platform. Selected agencies receive free 2026 platform entry, exclusive account access, product registration support for up to 4 products, and integrated online/offline marketing assistance. The program aims to help agencies struggling with high OTA fees establish stable sales bases. 16 companies will be selected with priority given to new applicants.
• KORAIL DistributionminorOthersKorail subsidiary included in the Cybersecurity Practice Program announced by parent company Korea Railroad Corporation (Korail). The program aims to strengthen practical security capabilities across Korail group companies to provide digital railway services the public can trust.
• KORAIL LogisticsminorOthersKorail subsidiary included in the Cybersecurity Practice Program announced by parent company Korea Railroad Corporation (Korail).
• KORAIL NetworksminorOthersKorail subsidiary included in the Cybersecurity Practice Program announced by parent company Korea Railroad Corporation (Korail).
• KORAIL TechminorOthersKorail subsidiary included in the Cybersecurity Practice Program announced by parent company Korea Railroad Corporation (Korail).
• Ministry of UnificationcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerDMZ Peace Link Train Tour is sponsored by the Ministry of Unification and Paju City government. The tour provides unique access to DMZ areas including the 3rd Infiltration Tunnel, Dora Observatory, and Dora Station - the northernmost railway station in South Korea.
• Paju CitycoreGTM or Marketing PartnerDMZ Peace Link Train Tour is co-sponsored by Paju City and Ministry of Unification, providing tours to DMZ areas with discounts for Paju residents (limited to 40 people at ₩19,800).
• Gyeonggi-dominorGTM or Marketing PartnerGyeonggi-do DMZ Private Bus Tour targets visitors from the Gyeonggi Province region for DMZ experiences.
• Gangwon Tourism FoundationcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPremium KTX Signature Tours to Gangwon region (Gangneung, Pyeongchang) receive tourism expenditure support from the Gangwon Tourism Foundation. These tours support the East Sea Line KTX opening and promote tourism in Gangwon Province.
• Andong CityminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAndong city tourism activation project - tours to Andong (UNESCO heritage destination) receive travel expense support from Andong City to promote regional tourism and UNESCO World Cultural Heritage sites.
• Okcheon CountyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerOkcheon County provides digital tourism resident cards and travel expense support for tours visiting the county's attractions including the annual grape and peach festival.
• Jeongseon CountyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerJeongseon County provides travel expense support for rail tours to Manhangjae wildflower festival and High1 gondola experiences. Korail also applies 50% train fare discount for population-decreasing areas.
• Jecheon CityminorGTM or Marketing PartnerJecheon City provides travel expense support for tours featuring the International Music & Film Festival, Hanbang Expo Park, and Cheongpung Cultural Heritage Site. Korail applies 50% train fare discount for population-decreasing areas.
• Gyeongbuk ProvincecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerGyeongbuk Province and Gyeongju City support the Nolsup Forest Pass pilot tour project - a forest tourism pass covering attractions in Gyeongbuk region (Gyeongju, Pohang, Uljin, Yeongdeok) with approximately ₩150,000 worth of discounts across 10 partner stores.
• Buyeo CountyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBuyeo County collaborates on temple stay and cultural heritage tours including Muryangsa Temple and Buyeo National Museum, providing cultural experience programs and district souvenirs.
• Yesan CountyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerYesan County provides digital tourism resident card support and travel program partnerships for tours featuring local attractions like Cheongpung Lake and traditional markets.
• Jeonju CityminorGTM or Marketing PartnerJeonju City and Korea Tourism Organization support K-League Trip Day tours featuring Jeonbuk Hyundai FC matches at Jeonju World Cup Stadium, with home supporter tickets included.
• Daejeon Metropolitan CitycoreGTM or Marketing PartnerDaejeon Metropolitan City supports the 'Honey City' Daejeon Bread Festival rail tours, providing festival-related promotional support and special experiences for train tour participants.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• TourRadar: TourRadar is a multi-day tour marketplace distributing escorted tour packages globally — comparable as an emerging tour-distribution channel relevant to the Travel Mall B2B strategy.
• Klook: Klook is a leading Asian OTA and tours/activities marketplace offering attraction, tour, and rail-tourism bookings across Korea — a partial competitor in the OTA/booking-engine layer where KORAIL Tourism Development is launching its Travel Mall B2B platform.

Direct peers

• Amtrak Vacations: Amtrak's tour package arm sells rail-inclusive vacation packages across the US using the parent Amtrak rail network — directly comparable as a state/operator-affiliated rail tour operator bundling train travel with accommodation, meals, and activities.
• JTB Corporation (JTB Journeys / JR East partner tours): JTB operates rail-tourism packages in partnership with JR East and other Japanese rail operators, packaging train tickets, accommodation, and curated experiences for both domestic and inbound travelers — a structurally analogous rail-tour-operator business model to KORAIL Tourism Development.
• Railbookers (Goldenrod Resorts): Railbookers is a global rail journey package tour operator curating independent and escorted rail holidays across multiple countries — directly comparable as a multi-day rail-tour package operator (the exact primary category of KORAIL Tourism Development).
• Rocky Mountaineer: Rocky Mountaineer operates luxury scenic rail tourism experiences through Canadian and US corridors — comparable in business model (luxury themed train journeys, premium pricing, packaged with accommodations) and category (scenic rail passenger operators).

Others

• Korea Tourism Organization (KTO): KTO is the South Korean government tourism marketing agency that promotes inbound travel to Korea and partners with KORAIL Tourism Development on foreigner tour offerings — not a competitor but a strategic ecosystem partner shaping the company's inbound addressable demand.

Broad incumbents

• Modetour (Mode Tour): Modetour is one of Korea's leading travel agencies, offering tour packages (including outbound rail tours such as European train holidays) — comparable as a domestic Korean tour-operator competitor at a broader scale.
• Trip.com Group (Ctrip): Trip.com is a global OTA with significant Korean tourism distribution and high commission fees that the Travel Mall program explicitly aims to circumvent — a broad incumbent competitor on inbound Korean bookings.
• Hana Tour (HanaTour): Hana Tour is South Korea's largest outbound and inbound travel agency — a broad incumbent that competes with KORAIL Tourism Development on inbound Korea packages and outbound tour distribution, but without the exclusive rail-infrastructure access.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCdvGEOFnsS_G02Lhqf1kBxw?view_as=subscriber
• Facebookfacebook.com/korailtravel
• Instagraminstagram.com/korailtravel
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/korail-tourism-development-co-ltd-

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about KORAIL TOURISM DEVELOPMENT Co., Ltd.