The Korean-designed high-speed train KTX-II made its debut at the Korea Railways Fair 2007 that opened on Wednesday at Busan's BEXCO.

Rotem, a member of the Hyundai Motor Group, developed the train with purely Korean technology. Last June, Korea's stockcar developer outbid the KTX source technology developer Alstom of France and won the order to supply high-speed train to the Honam-Jeolla line due to open in 2009. Then less than a year later, Rotem rolled out the KTX-II.

The KTX-II is unique in its design, which is based on an indigenous fish that only lives in grade 1 water. The design implies that the high-speed train is an environment-friendly means of transportation.

To remedy the inconvenience of rear-facing seats, all the seats in the KTX-II are made to turn. The seats are also spaced farther apart and the lighting is brighter, making the interior seem more spacious than the KTX-I.

The maximum speed for the KTX-Ⅱis clocked at 350 kilometers per hour, by far the fastest among all the commercialized high-speed trains. The development of the KTX-II puts Korea in the exclusive "350km Club," following France, Japan, and Germany. Rotem is aiming to reach a top speed of 400 kilometers by 2012.

A Rotem official says that Turkey, Brazil, and the U.S. are showing keen interest in the KTX-II. Also the company hopes that the KTX-II development would give them an edge in possible participation in the trans-Asia and trans-Siberia railway projects in the future.