Donghae Line


The Donghae Line is a railway line connecting Busanjin station to Samcheok station in South Korea. The literal meaning of its name, the "East Sea Line," reflects its position along the nation's East coast. It merged with the Donghae Nambu Line on December 30, 2016, and will merge with the Donghae Bukbu Line.
On January 26, 2018, the East Sea Line was partially extended to Yeongdeok Station, and on January 1, 2025, the line between Yeongdeok Station and Samcheok Station was opened.

Stations

Major stations along the line include :

Services

KTX

Plans foresee direct KTX high-speed train service from Seoul to Pohang and Ulsan after the completion of the upgrades. From 2015, direct KTX trains are to reach Pohang from Seoul in 1 hour 50 minutes, cutting 33 minutes from the travel time with transfer at Gyeongju. Under the government's 2010 strategic plan for 2020, the entire line may see KTX service.

Busan–Ulsan commuter trains

In the Busan–Ulsan section, higher frequency commuter rail service between Bujeon and Ilgwang began on December 30, 2016. Service operates approximately every 15 minutes during the peak periods and 30 minutes during the off-peak. The line is integrated into the Busan Metro network and accepts the Hanaro Card and Digital Busan Card, as well as the T-Money card from Seoul.
Station #Station nameTransferable linesStation typeDoors open
K110Bujeon Mugunghwa-ho &ITX-Saemaeul &ITX-MAUM, KTX-Eum servicesAbovegroundEither, depending on which side the train stops
K111GeojehaemajiAbovegroundLeft
K112GeojeLine 3AbovegroundLeft
K113Busan Nat'l Univ. of Edu.Line 1AbovegroundLeft
K114DongnaeAbovegroundLeft
K115AllakAbovegroundLeft
K116BusanwondongAbovegroundLeft
K117JaesongAbovegroundLeft
K118Centum Mugunghwa-ho &ITX-MAUM services AbovegroundLeft
K119BEXCOLine 2AbovegroundLeft
K120Sinhaeundae Mugunghwa-ho &ITX-Saemaeul &ITX-MAUM servicesSemi-undergroundLeft
K121SongjeongAbovegroundLeft
K122OSIRIAAbovegroundLeft
K123Gijang Mugunghwa-ho &ITX-MAUM servicesAbovegroundLeft
K124IlgwangAbovegroundLeft
K125JwacheonAbovegroundLeft
K126WollaeAbovegroundLeft
K127SeosaengAbovegroundLeft
K128Namchang Mugunghwa-ho &ITX-MAUM services AbovegroundLeft
K129MangyangAbovegroundLeft
K130DeokhaAbovegroundLeft
K131GaeunpoAbovegroundLeft
K132Taehwagang Mugunghwa-ho &ITX-MAUM, KTX-Eum servicesAbovegroundEither, depending on which side the train stops
K133Bugulsan Mugunghwa-ho &ITX-MAUM servicesJune 2026

Rolling stock

Upgrade

Pohang–Samcheok extension

At the time of thawing relations between South and North Korea, when the cross-border section of the Donghae Bukbu Line was reopened in 2007, the South Korean government considered the construction of a railway for freight traffic all along the east coast to the North Korean border. As part of the corridor, a new single-track, non-electrified line for would connect Pohang and Samcheok, the end of a branch of the Yeongdong Line. new line is to connect to the existing railhead at Samcheok. Work started on the Pohang-Yeongdeok section on March 20, 2008, with a foreseen budget of 2,949.5 billion won for the entire line until Samcheok. As of 2009, progress reached 5.9% of a planned budget reduced to 2,831.749 billion won, and completion of the long project was planned for 2016. Under the government's 2010 strategic plan for 2020, the Pohang–Samcheok extension is to be further upgraded for.
On January 1, 2025, when the Yeongdeok Station to Samcheok Station opened, 12 stations were newly established as intermediate stations, including Yeonghae, Goraebul, Hupo, Pyeonghae, Giseong, Maehwa, Uljin, Jukbyeon, Heungbu, Okwon, Imwon, and Geundeok.