Project
EMU 370
Overview
Next-Generation KTX
Vestibule Service Hub
Transportation
2024
Focusing on the interior spatial architecture of the EMU-370, this project specifically highlights the strategic
development of vestibule service modules. Reinterpreting Korean heritage through ‘Silent Dignity’, it turns
transitional corridors into hospitality-led service hubs—integrating class-specific CMF, specialized
amenities, and universal accessibility.
Index
Part 1. Strategic Context
01 Project Background
02 Field Research
03 Travel Experience Analysis
Part 3. Engineering Details
09 VIP Vestibule
10 Business Vestibule
11 Standard (Inclusive) Vestibule
12 Standard Vestibule
Part 2. Design Management
04 Paradigm Shift
05 Design Management Solution
06 Class-Specific Personas
07 Interior Theme Architecture
08 CMF Strategy
Part 4. Business Impact
13 Market Penetration Strategy
Part 1. Strategic Context
01 Project Background
Evolution of KTX
Developed through collaboration with Hyundai Motor Group's Design Center on design direction and with Hyundai Rotem on engineering specifications and manufacturing, this project establishes the design concepts and strategic direction for Korea's next-generation high-speed train, the EMU-370. Building upon the evolution of KTX technology from early model introductions to recent electric multiple units, the project redefines both exterior form and interior spatial experiences. Designed for a target speed of 370 km/h, it shapes the future vision for high-speed rail mobility.
KTX-I (TGV-K)
2004
A high-speed train built using
French TGV technology
•305 km/h
•935 seats
•20-car formation
KTX-Sancheon
2010
The first Korean domestic high-speed
train developed by Hyundai Rotem
•305 km/h
•363 seats
•10-car formation
KTX-I (TGV-K)
2021
Korea’s first electric multiple unit
(EMU) high-speed train
•260 km/h
•381 seats
•6-car formation
KTX-Cheongryong (EMU-320)
2024
EMU high-speed train after KTX-Eum
with a maximum speed of 320 km/h
•320 km/h
•515 seats
•8-car formation
02 Field Research
On-Site Spatial
Ergonomics Discovery
Direct field research was conducted across active train carriages, cockpits, and maintenance facilities to analyze real-world operational and spatial pain points. Through physical dimension measurements and usability assessments of passenger amenities including tables, storage racks, gangways, and driver consoles, critical ergonomic inefficiencies were identified to establish human-centered design requirements for the EMU-370.
03 Travel Experience Analysis
Maximizing
Travel Time Freedom
A comparative journey analysis across transportation modes highlights high-speed rail’s unique structural advantages over air and bus travel. While air travel incurs heavy non-transit waiting times and buses offer limited speed and stability over long distances, high-speed rail combines downtown accessibility with smooth, stable ride conditions. This insight identified the need to translate the intangible value of in- transit time into spatial functions, CMF, and tailored passenger services for the EMU-370.
Part 2. Design Management
04 Paradigm Shift
Shift to
Experiential Space
To redefine the future of high-speed rail, the EMU-370 transcends the conventional emphasis on velocity, pivoting toward the holistic experience of the journey itself. By reframing travel time as dedicated living time, the interior vision transforms passive transport into a hospitality-driven environment. Passengers are re-imagined as valued guests, turning standard carriage seats into adaptive, immersive spaces that foster
productivity, relaxation, and personal time.
05 Design Management Solution
The Journey
Beyond Destination
The EMU-370 redefines high-speed rail by transforming the transit corridor into an experiential destination. By bridging cutting-edge aerodynamic exterior engineering with an interior spatial philosophy rooted in Korean heritage, the design elevates train travel into a meaningful personal journey filled with calm, dignity, and tailored hospitality.
06 Class-Specific Personas
Tailoring Spatial Value
Across Passenger Segments
To deliver targeted in-transit experiences, passenger profiles are segmented into three tiers based on travel motivations and behavioral patterns.
By aligning spatial functionality with segment-specific expectations, the EMU-370 transforms onboard environments from uniform seating into specialized spaces—ranging from privacy for VIPs to mobile productivity for business travelers and flexible comfort for standard passengers.
VIP : 16 seats
Business : 46 seats
Standard : 391 seats
07 Interior Theme Architecture
Serenity Expressed
Through Heritage
Aesthetics
Serving as the primary interior narrative for the EMU-370, Silent Dignity establishes a tranquil atmosphere that counters exterior high-speed dynamics. By reinterpreting traditional Korean principles of restraint and empty space, this framework unifies the entire cabin through three spatial pillars: Poom (Embracing Structure), Gyeop (Layered Rhythm), and Gyeol (Organic Minimalism). Together, they translate heritage motifs—such as the Jeogori collar, Hanbok layers, and Moon Jar contours—into modern architectural forms, refined textures, and serene visual order.
The CMF strategy for the EMU-370 translates traditional Korean architectural elements into class-specific material palettes. Inspired by the solemnity of royal palaces, the intellectual depth of Dancheong structures, and the vibrant harmony of traditional rooflines, each cabin class adopts a distinct tactile and visual identity. From the deep, authoritative tones of the VIP suite to the focused balance of Business class and the warm vitality of Standard seating, colors and finishes define tailored atmospheric moods.
08 CMF Strategy
Differentiating Space Through Material Identity
Part 3. Engineering Details
09 VIP Vestibule
VIP Vestibule:
Welcoming
Passengers
Before the Cabin
The first space VIP passengers encounter onboard is not the cabin, but the vestibule zone. Consequently, this area was conceived not as a mere transit corridor, but as a dedicated entryway to the main suite. Upon entering, class-specific signage and dynamic transit displays greet passengers first, while floor-level indirect lighting guides their gaze toward the cabin. Built into the sidewalls of this entryway are a clothing care system, private phone booth, and gender-specific restrooms, allowing guests to groom attire and complete calls before stepping into the cabin.
09 VIP Vestibule
Closed as a Wall,
Opened into Space
By integrating the finishes of the walls and doors with a refined vertical texture, visual noise was eliminated. Engineered as a concealed flush structure, the surface functions as a clean architectural wall when closed, revealing a private restroom and clothing care system only when in use. This configuration maximizes privacy and provides an orderly spatial experience tailored for VIP passengers.
VIP Class Cabin
10 Business Vestibule
One-Stop
Service Hub
for Efficient
Transit Flow
What business passengers require most is the efficiency to complete errands quickly and return to work. To support this, an automated vending machine, a powder room, and information displays are consolidated into a single corridor zone, allowing travelers to purchase beverages, wash hands, and check upcoming stops within a single circulation
flow.
10 Business Vestibule
Dedicated
Open Powder Area
for Efficient Flow
The wash area in the business vestibule is immediately accessible without waiting for the restroom. By separating the vanity into an open-plan powder room, passengers can wash their hands or adjust their attire without queuing. On the opposite side, an automated vending machine, real-time information display, and recycling units are recessed flush into the wall, maximizing usable walking width in the compact corridor.
Business Class Cabin
11 Standard (Inclusive) Vestibule
Universal Access:
A Vestibule for All
The standard vestibule serves the widest range of passengers, including wheelchair users, the elderly, and families with strollers. Accordingly, the restroom interior provides ample clearance for a full 360-degree wheelchair turning radius, while the curved exterior walls eliminate sharp edges for fluid entry. Transit information screens and universal pictograms are integrated into the rounded partitions, with door controls and grab bars positioned at universally reachable heights.
Standard Barrier-Free Restroom
12 Standard Vestibule
Standard Vestibule
Optimized
for Heavy Luggage
The standard vestibule experiences the heaviest passenger and baggage circulation aboard the train. To manage demand, restrooms are separated by gender to divide wait times, and an expanded luggage rack accommodates oversized suitcases beside the restrooms to prevent hallway congestion. Auxiliary tip-up seats, waste bins, and fire equipment are recessed flush within walls finished in light wood CMF, preserving an organized, spacious atmosphere even during peak boarding hours.
Part 4. Business Impact
13 Market Penetration Strategy
Maximizing Enterprise Value
Through Design Architecture
The EMU-370 design strategy elevates high-speed rail from a simple transportation utility into a high-value mobility experience. By introducing class-specific spatial segmentation, the design opens new revenue opportunities through premium passenger experiences. At the same time, the integration of Korean heritage aesthetics (Silent Dignity) establishes a distinctive brand identity, while modular vestibule layouts and universal accessibility improve operational efficiency and support ESG commitments.
Custom Suit Payment
(Margin Agreement)
EMU 370
Next Generation High-Speed Train
Design Film
Youtube
Featured in
Rail Economy News
HYUNDAI ROTEM
YTN
HYUNDAI ROTEM
DONG JU LEE
Design Portfolio.
© All Rights Reserved by DongJu Lee.
DONG JU LEE
Design Portfolio
DONG JU LEE
Design Portfolio.© All Rights Reserved by DongJu Lee