It looks like a Korean budget airline is gaining some ground on the KTX. Since they launched in 2004, budget airlines have been struggling to compete with KTX’s bullet train service, but recent data is showing that there were more budget air passengers on the Seoul-Busan route, while the the number of passengers using the KTX decreased. The CEO of Air Busan is crediting the new Seoul subway line that connects directly to Gimpo Airport and domestic specials such as memberships for business travelers. Later this year the gap between the  cost of flying and taking the KTX on the same route will close even further – a one-way flight from Seoul to Busan will cost less than a KTX ticket if booked on the internet. Air Busan is also planning to start flying Busan-Fukuoka and Busan-Osaka in the spring of next year.

The U.S. Secretary of Defense, Robert Gates, says that plans to handover America’s operational control to the Korean military are on schedule for 2012. The relocation of bases to Camp Humphreys in Pyeongtaek is going smoothly he says, as are other processes.  Gates will be in Seoul on Thursday and plans to discuss the progress of the transfer and possible Korean support in Afghanistan. Meanwhile, the Environment Minister says the debate over the clean up of two U.S. bases scheduled for relocation has been resolved. The U.S. is set to take responsibility for the environmental clean up of bases in Busan and Uiwang before returning them to Korea and is considering paying for base clean-ups if new sources of contamination are found in the future.

Seoul is featured on CNN’s GO guide. The piece is titled “48-Hours in Seoul” and highlights Insadong, Gyeongbukgung, Samcheongdong, Apgujeong, Bukchon, Bongeunsa Temple, and Garosugil as must-see places for travellers that only have two days in the city.

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