Korea Launches Ultra-High-Speed Train Development — Seoul to Busan in 20 Minutes | WPN World People News

The South Korean government recently announced a full-scale initiative to develop a new type of high-speed transportation system, aiming to enable ultra-fast travel through vacuum tubes. This project, named the "Hyper Tube," is led by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport in collaboration with the Korea Railroad Research Institute, with core technology development expected to be completed by 2027.

The Hyper Tube is considered a breakthrough in next-generation transportation, with a concept similar to the “Hyperloop” proposed by Tesla founder Elon Musk. It utilizes a low-pressure environment and magnetic propulsion to achieve high-speed, low-resistance travel. Under near-vacuum conditions, the theoretical top speed of the train could reach up to 1,200 kilometers per hour—comparable to commercial airliners and far exceeding the current KTX trains, which run at around 300 km/h.

The project involves several key technological components, including magnetic levitation propulsion, low-pressure tube construction, train design and manufacturing, and high-precision traffic control systems. Among these, the ability to levitate and stably operate a train in a low-pressure environment is at the core of the technology. If applied to the Seoul-Busan route, travel time could be reduced to just 20 minutes—roughly one-seventh of the current duration.

The South Korean government estimates a total investment of 12.7 billion won, with more than 3.6 billion won already allocated this year as seed funding. The Ministry emphasized that this technology could significantly boost transportation efficiency while also helping to address regional issues such as population migration and uneven development, ultimately promoting balanced national growth.

Currently, several countries around the world—including the United States, the European Union, and China—are also actively developing similar systems. South Korea hopes that through this initiative, it can secure a leading position in ultra-high-speed rail technology and potentially export the system to international markets, expanding its global influence in advanced transportation.