Seoul to Busan 8 Hours... Congestion Expected Around 11 AM

On the 23rd, the southbound lanes of the Seohaean Expressway, seen from a police helicopter, are congested with vehicles heading home for the holidays.

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Dae-yeol] Traffic congestion is expected on major highways nationwide on the first day of the Lunar New Year holiday, the 24th. According to the Korea Expressway Corporation, if departing at 9 a.m. that day, it is estimated to take about 8 hours and 10 minutes to reach Busan (based on departure from the tollgate).

It is expected to take 6 hours and 20 minutes from West Seoul to Mokpo, and 7 hours and 50 minutes from Seoul to Ulsan. In addition, it is estimated to take about 6 hours and 40 minutes from Seoul to Daegu, 6 hours and 10 minutes to Gwangju, 3 hours and 50 minutes to Daejeon, and 4 hours and 20 minutes to Gangneung.

The Korea Expressway Corporation forecasted that the total traffic volume nationwide will be about 4.61 million vehicles that day. The outbound traffic toward hometowns will be most congested around 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. and is expected to ease around 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. The inbound traffic returning home will be somewhat more congested than usual Sundays, also peaking around 12 p.m. and expected to clear after 5 p.m.

As of 9 a.m. that day, vehicles are experiencing congestion at speeds below 40 km/h on various highways centered around the Seoul metropolitan area. Some slow-moving or congested spots are reported near Changwon on the Namhae Expressway, around Gunsan on the Seohaean Expressway, and in the Chungcheong region including Daejeon, Gongju, and Nonsan. Meanwhile, from midnight on the 24th until midnight on the 26th, toll fees will not be charged for vehicles using the highways.