Korea unveils next-gen high-speed train, world's 2nd-fastest

Korea's EMU-370 next-generation high-speed train is seen in this photo provided by the transport ministry. Yonhap

The government has completed the development of core technologies for a next-generation high-speed train capable of operating at 370 kilometers per hour, making it the world’s second-fastest in terms of commercial operating speed, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport said Monday.

The train, named EMU-370, has a technically designed maximum speed of 407 kph. Developed under a national research and development program led by the Korea Railroad Research Institute (KRRI) with participation from seven public and private organizations, the project ran from April 2022 to December 2025.

A total of 22.5 billion won ($15.23 million) was invested in the project, including 18 billion won from the government and 4.5 billion won from private firms.

The government plans to begin manufacturing the first EMU-370 vehicles next year and conduct test operations in 2030, with commercialization expected after 2031. Once deployed, the EMU-370 would rank second globally in commercial operating speed, following China’s CR450, which is undergoing tests at 400 kph ahead of its planned commercial launch in 2027. Major high-speed trains in France, Germany and Japan currently operate at around 320 kph.

Compared with Korea’s current fastest train, the EMU-320, known as KTX-Cheongyong, the EMU-370 features a 47.4 percent higher motor output, 12.3 percent lower air resistance, a 33 percent reduction in horizontal vibration acceleration and a 2-decibel decrease in indoor noise. The train will seat 479 passengers and has a motor capacity of 560 kilowatts, equivalent to the combined output of 75 midsize sedans.

The government says the EMU-370 will allow all domestic regions to be reachable within two hours, enhancing regional economic balance. Officials also expect Korea to strengthen its position in the global high-speed rail market, which is increasingly moving toward trains capable of reaching speeds of 350 kph or faster.

“We will begin developing key technologies for the country’s third-generation high-speed trains capable of 400 kph next year,” said Yoon Jin-hwan, head of the ministry's Railway Bureau.