From 2013 to 2023, the volume of goods transported via railways in South Korea has shown a consistent decline. In 2023, the volume stood at 6.37 billion tonne kilometers, indicating a year-on-year decrease of 2.72%. The last two years saw fluctuations with a slight increase in 2021 followed by continuous declines in 2022 and 2023. The average annual variation from 2019 to 2023 was approximately -4.18%. Forecasts suggest continuing decline, which points to a 5-year CAGR of -2.32%, resulting in an estimated volume of 5.5 billion tonne kilometers by 2028.

Future trends to watch for:

Advances in transportation technology could improve efficiency and possibly halt or slow the decline.
Government policies and investments in railway infrastructure may significantly impact future trends.
Shifts in economic activities and the demand for certain goods that are typically transported by rail could also influence future volumes.