Chuseok Return Traffic Congestion Intensifies... Busan to Seoul Expected to Take 8 Hours 30 Minutes

On the second day of the Chuseok holiday, the 19th, vehicles are moving slowly toward Busan on the Gyeongbu Expressway near Jamwon IC in Seocho-gu, Seoul. Photo by Dongju Yoon doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Yu Je-hoon] Traffic congestion on the way home began on major highways nationwide from the afternoon of the 21st, Chuseok day.

According to Korea Expressway Corporation, as of 1:30 PM that day, the estimated travel time from major cities nationwide to the Seoul tollgate is 8 hours 30 minutes from Busan, 8 hours 10 minutes from Ulsan, 8 hours from Mokpo, 7 hours 30 minutes from Daegu and Gwangju, and 4 hours 20 minutes from Daejeon and Gangneung.

Meanwhile, the Expressway Corporation forecasted the nationwide traffic volume to be 5.22 million vehicles that day. It is expected that 420,000 vehicles will travel from the metropolitan area to the provinces, and 480,000 vehicles from the provinces to the metropolitan area. Traffic congestion in the direction of going home reached its peak around 3 to 4 PM and eased around 8 to 9 PM, while congestion in the direction of returning home peaked around 3 to 4 PM and is expected to clear by 1 to 2 AM on the 22nd.

The Expressway Corporation stated, "Many vehicles will use the highways on Chuseok day, and severe congestion is expected due to the mixed traffic of people visiting ancestral graves, relatives, and traveling both to and from their hometowns."