{
  "id": 15136164,
  "title": "Sejong relocation set to worsen KTX seat shortage",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/17/sejong-relocation-set-to-worsen-ktx-seat-shortage",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-17T06:27:03.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Korea Times",
    "slug": "the-korea-times",
    "url": "https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/southkorea/20261017/sejong-relocation-set-to-worsen-ktx-seat-shortage"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The South Korean government's plan to relocate thousands of civil servants to Sejong is causing growing anxiety among commuters who already face a severe lack of high-speed rail tickets when traveling from Seoul. Kim, a 52-year-old civil servant with a commute from Seoul to the Government Complex in Sejong, expressed concern over the impending second-phase relocation. Even now, securing a seat on the high-speed train departing from Seoul is a challenge. The significant transfer of government personnel could exacerbate the already scarce availability of seats. \"If you let your guard down and miss the ticket reservations, which open a month in advance, you could end up arriving late to work or having to take a half-day off,\" Kim warned. \"If nearly 3,000 civil servants move to Sejong next year alone, the morning commute will be nothing short of a battle.\" The government's second-phase relocation plan has raised concerns among officials in Sejong, with many expected to continue commuting from Seoul and other existing residences.",
  "summary": "Civil servants commuting from Seoul to Sejong face growing concerns over an already severe shortage of high-speed rail tickets, as the government prepares to relocate thousands of officials to the administrative city. Kim, a 52-year-old civil servant who commutes from his home in Seoul to Government Complex Sejong, said he was worried after the government recently announced its second-phase…",
  "key_points": [
    "South Korean government plans to relocate 3,000 civil servants to Sejong.",
    "Current high-speed rail ticket shortage severe for Seoul commuters.",
    "Second-phase relocation could worsen KTX seat scarcity in morning commute."
  ],
  "editors_take": "The massive transfer of government personnel threatens to turn the daily commute into a logistical struggle for civil servants who must already fight for scarce high-speed rail reservations.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The Korea Times",
        "title": "Sejong relocation set to worsen KTX seat shortage",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/17/sejong-relocation-set-to-worsen-ktx-seat-shortage-15139787",
        "published": "2026-10-17T06:47:03.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}