Severe Congestion in the Afternoon... Busan to Seoul Takes 6 Hours 50 Minutes

Traffic Congestion Most Severe Between 3 and 4 PM

On the 24th, the first day of the Lunar New Year holiday, vehicles heading home passed through the Seoul Tollgate. During the holiday period from the 24th to the 26th, toll fees on all expressways nationwide, including privately operated highways, will be waived, while tolls must be paid on the substitute holiday, the 27th. Photo by Yoon Dong-ju doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Shim Nayoung] On the third day of the Lunar New Year holiday, the 26th, traffic congestion has been worsening since the afternoon.

The estimated travel times by passenger car departing from major cities nationwide at 1 PM to reach the Seoul tollgate are as follows: Busan 6 hours 50 minutes, Mokpo 6 hours 30 minutes (based on Seo Seoul tollgate), Gwangju 6 hours 10 minutes, Daegu 5 hours 40 minutes, Daejeon 3 hours 10 minutes, and Gangneung 3 hours 40 minutes.

The Korea Expressway Corporation expects the congestion to be at its worst between 4 and 5 PM on the 26th and to ease around 2 to 3 AM on the 27th.

The Korea Expressway Corporation explained, "The total traffic volume on the 26th is expected to reach 4.64 million vehicles, with 350,000 vehicles moving from the metropolitan area to the provinces and 480,000 vehicles moving from the provinces to the metropolitan area," adding that severe congestion is expected from morning until late at night.

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