LED panels are installed on the top of each car older than train 311-83 that show announcements; trains 311-83 and beyond have LCD monitor displays that show advertisements along announcements.

The trains feature ATC devices and stop notifiers for express services.

Unlike the older livery, the livery was applied only on the front ends, the doors, and on parts of the car bodies above and below the doors; it is intended to be a metaphor of Taegeuk, but was criticized as being too primitive-looking.

Later fourth generation trains sport an updated version of the Taeguk-themed livery.

The updated livery is only applied on the front ends and the doors, and comprises a blue background with a small red stripe.

The car body as a whole was redesigned; the front ends of the train were changed completely, and the side windows are now coated and in a single piece (as opposed to the two-window setup between doors).

Trains 311-42~311-47 were built by Rotem from 2002 to 2003 to address the Line 1 Gyeongbu Branch's extension from Suwon to Byeongjeom Station.

Trains 311-64 & 311-65 were built by Rotem in 2004 to address the Line 1 Gyeongbu Branch's extension from Byeongjeom to Cheonan Station.

The trainset is nearly identical to the LRTA 2000 class used by the Light Rail Transit Authority in Manila's Line 2 which in turn the design of the said rolling stock were based on this generation.

The said trainsets were also manufactured by Hyundai Rotem along with Toshiba for its original propulsion systems.

Second generation trains are expected to fully retire by 2027 or 2029 when it reaches the end of its planned lifespan of 25 years.

The interior was also updated and the door motors are electric-powered as opposed to air-powered.

They replaced refurbished 2nd batch Class 1000 trains that reached the end of their 25-year lifespans.

The front end received anticlimbers, and several improvements were made to the interior including new overhead LCD destination displays and clearer speakers.

Meanwhile, trains 311-88~311-89 were sidelined for years until receiving newly made cars in 2014.

As a result, the two newly built cars in train 311-91 have been stored out of service for the time being.

[citation needed] The last batch of third generation Class 311000 trains were built and delivered throughout 2016.

The cab ends of the driving cars changed completely; as a result, railfans nicknamed the trains "주둥이" (roughly translated as "snout face").

[citation needed] A further eight trains, numbered 312-08~312-15, have been delivered and entered service since January 2022.

[6] Older Class 311000 trains were overhauled from 2004 to 2006 (though minor refurbishments began in 2002).

The Daegu subway fire compelled Korail to introduce flame-resistant interiors for passenger safety.

Starting from March 2011, former Class 5000 trains were renumbered from the 5000-series to the 311000-series as a part of a new numbering scheme by Korail (the leading "3" indicating a metro car).