South Korea: On 1st May, two eight-car trainsets commenced passenger service on high-speed lines Gyeongbu and Honam, with 17 trainsets more scheduled for entry into service by 2027.
The trains, capable of reaching 320 km/h, are the fastest vehicles in the country.
It is the EMU-320 multiple units with distributed traction which ensure superior acceleration and deceleration performance on these lines with many curved sections and short distances between stations, although since 2008 the KTX-Sancheon train has been purchased with head cars acting as locomotives.
Inside the first Hyundai Rotem high-speed EMU-320. Source: locomote
According to the manufacturer, the EMU-320 accelerates from 0 to 300 km/h in just 212 seconds, compared with 316 seconds for the KTX-Sancheon. Its car bodies are made of aluminium instead of steel, reducing the axle load from 17 to 15 t. The EMU-320 has 46 first-class and 469 second-class seats.
