EMU-250

Due to the growth of upgraded semi-high speed railway lines in South Korea and the global HSR market preferring multiple units over power-intensive trains, the national government laid a plan to order EMUs for use on those lines.[3] After the development of HEMU-430X, Hyundai-Rotem and Korail signed an agreement in June 2016 for supplying high speed trains with distributed power, the first of its kind in South Korea in commercial service (the HEMU-430X also used distributed traction, but it is not in mass production). The order was for two variants: 16 EMU-320 units or cars (with an operating speed of 320 km/h) and 19 six-car EMU-250 units, to be delivered around 2020–2021.[4][5] A contest was held by Korail in September 2016 for the public to decide the design of the new models.[6] In 2017, multiple life-size mockups were shown to the public to promote the train.[7] On 4 November 2019, the first EMU was unveiled at the Changwon plant.[2][8] It is planned that all vehicles will be delivered by 2020, with the model starting operation in the same year on the Jungang Line. The trains are also expected to be used on the Gyeongjeon, Seohae and Jungbu Naeryuk lines.[9]

The train uses distributed traction and is meant for use on upgraded 200 km/h lines which need rapid acceleration and braking in order to serve numerous stops within a high frequency.[4] For example, the planned semi-high speed Nambu Naeryuk (Southern Inland) line has an average distance between stations of 30 km, a significant reduction compared to the Jungbu Naeryuk Line (46 km) and the KTX standard of 57 km.[10] Each train has 381 seats.[9]

The seats have more leg room and wider armrests compared to KTX trains, and also feature USB and wireless charging ports.[4] Each row is aligned so that every non-aisle seat has its own window.[1] There are also displays in each car for entertainment and information.[9]