Korail changed its carriage rules from July 1, 2026 because of battery-fire risk. The operator says lithium-battery personal mobility devices such as electric scooters and e-bikes are restricted, along with portable large-capacity lithium batteries over 160Wh. The rule applies across Korail train services including KTX, ITX-Saemaeul and Mugunghwa; for Korail metropolitan rail, the operator also says the restriction applies to station entry.
There are important exceptions and limits to the headline. Korail says powered wheelchairs and medical scooters used for mobility are exempt. It also says common small everyday devices such as mobile phones, laptops and ordinary small power banks are not included in the restriction.
If you travel with a large power station, specialist broadcast/camping battery, e-bike battery or mobility device, check the watt-hour rating before going to the station. Do not assume airline battery rules are identical to rail rules. If the label is missing or the capacity is close to 160Wh, contact Korail before travel rather than relying on a reseller or travel forum.