Severe Highway Congestion from 9 AM... Seoul to Busan Takes 6 Hours 50 Minutes

Traffic congestion begins at 9 a.m. on the third day of the Lunar New Year holiday, January 26

Expected to clear around 2-3 a.m. on January 27

On the 24th, the start of the Lunar New Year holiday, the number of vehicles heading home increased near Suwon Singil IC on the Gyeongbuk Expressway, in the direction of Busan (left side). / Suwon = Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Shim Nayoung] On the third day of the Lunar New Year holiday, January 26, severe traffic congestion is expected to begin around 9 a.m. nationwide on highways heading toward Seoul and is anticipated to clear only by early the next morning.

The Korea Expressway Corporation stated that congestion toward Seoul will start from 9 a.m., peak around 4 to 5 p.m., and is expected to ease around 2 to 3 a.m. on January 27.

The Korea Expressway Corporation explained, "Traffic volume on January 26 is expected to reach 4.64 million vehicles, with approximately 350,000 vehicles moving from the metropolitan area to other regions and 480,000 vehicles traveling from other regions to the metropolitan area," adding that severe congestion is expected from morning until late at night.

Estimated travel times by passenger car departing at 10 a.m. from major cities nationwide to the Seoul tollgate are: Busan 6 hours 50 minutes, Mokpo 6 hours 00 minutes (based on Seo Seoul tollgate), Gwangju 5 hours 40 minutes, Daegu 4 hours 30 minutes, Daejeon 2 hours 20 minutes, and Gangneung 2 hours 50 minutes.

Highway tolls will be waived until the night of January 26, while tolls will be charged as usual on the last day of the holiday, January 27.