Lunar New Year Return Traffic Jam Intensifies... Busan to Seoul Takes 8 Hours 10 Minutes

Peak Congestion on Return Trip Home Between 1-2 PM, Peak Congestion on Return Trip to City Between 3-4 PM

On the morning of the 22nd, Lunar New Year's Day, vehicles are lined up on the southbound lane (left side) near the Jamwon IC on the Gyeongbu Expressway in Seoul. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Seongpil Cho] On the 22nd, the Lunar New Year’s Day, traffic congestion continues in various sections of major highways nationwide in both directions.

According to Korea Expressway Corporation, as of noon on this day, the Busan-bound lanes of the Gyeongbu Expressway are experiencing stop-and-go traffic over a total distance of 35 km, including 4 km between Hannam and Seocho, 2 km between Singal Junction and Suwon, 11 km between Dongtan Junction and Namsa, 8 km between Cheonan and Mokcheon, 3 km near Oksan Rest Area, 4 km between Daejeon and Biryong Junction, 1 km near Geumho Junction, and 2 km near Dodong Junction.

The Seoul-bound lanes of the Gyeongbu Expressway are moving slowly over a total of 48 km, including 1 km at the Gyeongbu Line starting point, 5 km between Yangsan Junction and Yangsan, 2 km near Yeongcheon Junction, 2 km at Geumho Junction, 17 km between Bukcheonan and Anseong Junction, 8 km between Giheung and Singal Junction, 1 km between Pangyo and Pangyo Junction, and 12 km between Geumto Junction and Banpo.

The Mokpo-bound lanes of the Seohaean Expressway are congested over 3 km between West Seoul Tollgate and Sunsan Tunnel, and 8 km near West Pyeongtaek to Seohae Bridge. The Seoul-bound lanes are slow over 4 km between Mongtan 3 Tunnel and Mongtan 2 Tunnel, 24 km between Dangjin Junction and Seohae Bridge, 21 km between Balan and Maesong, and 6 km between Gwangmyeong Station and Geumcheon.

The Namyi-bound lanes of the Jungbu Expressway are crawling over 5 km between Hanam Junction and East Seoul Tollgate, 3 km between Majang and Hobup Junction, 3 km between Hobup Junction and Moga, and 14 km between Daeso Junction and Jincheon Tunnel. The Hanam-bound lanes of the Jungbu Line are congested over 9 km between Namyi Junction and Seo Cheongju, 8 km between Jeungpyeong and Jincheon, 6 km near Iljuk, 2 km between Namicheon IC and Moga, and 5 km between Jungbu 3 Tunnel and Jungbu 1 Tunnel.

The Incheon-bound lanes of the Yeongdong Expressway are congested over 6 km between Bongpyeong Tunnel and Dunnae Tunnel, 6 km between Gangcheon Tunnel and Yeoju, 2 km between Icheon and Hobup Junction, 13 km between Deokpyeong and Yongin, 18 km between Dong Suwon and Banwol Tunnel, and 3 km between Gunja Junction and Wolgot Junction. The Gangneung-bound lanes of the Yeongdong Line are slow over 3 km between Gunja Junction and Gunja Tollgate, 12 km between Ansan and Bugok, 1 km near Singal Junction, 12 km between Maseong and Yangji Tunnel, and 2 km between Yeoju Rest Area and Yeoju Junction.

At 1 p.m. on this day, the estimated travel times by passenger car from Seoul Tollgate to major cities nationwide are 7 hours 40 minutes to Busan, 7 hours 20 minutes to Ulsan, 6 hours 40 minutes to Daegu, 5 hours 50 minutes to Gwangju, 4 hours 20 minutes to Gangneung, and 3 hours 40 minutes to Daejeon. Conversely, the travel times to Seoul Tollgate are 8 hours 10 minutes from Busan, 7 hours 40 minutes from Ulsan, 7 hours from Daegu, 6 hours 20 minutes from Gwangju, 3 hours 40 minutes from Gangneung, and 4 hours from Daejeon.

The Expressway Corporation projected the nationwide traffic volume to be 6.12 million vehicles on this day. It is expected that 490,000 vehicles will move from the metropolitan area to provinces, and 470,000 vehicles will move from provinces to the metropolitan area. The homebound traffic congestion is expected to peak between 1 and 2 p.m. and ease between 8 and 9 p.m. The return traffic is expected to peak between 3 and 4 p.m. and clear by 2 to 3 a.m. on the 23rd, according to the Expressway Corporation.