Busan to Seoul 6 Hours 30 Minutes... Congestion Expected to Clear Around 2-3 AM on the 23rd

Nationwide Bidirectional Traffic Congestion Continues on Highways

[Asia Economy Reporter Minji Lee] On the afternoon of the 22nd, the day of Seollal, traffic congestion continues in both directions on major highways nationwide. In particular, the return trip shows slow traffic flow in most sections.

On the 20th, one day before the Lunar New Year holiday, the Gyeongbu Expressway heading toward Busan near Jamwon IC in Seoul is showing congestion. Photo by Dongju Yoon doso7@

According to Korea Expressway Corporation, as of 5 p.m. on this day, the estimated travel time by passenger car from major cities nationwide to the Seoul tollgate is 6 hours 30 minutes from Busan, 6 hours 20 minutes from Ulsan, 5 hours 40 minutes from Daegu, 4 hours 50 minutes from Gwangju, 3 hours 30 minutes from Gangneung, and 3 hours 50 minutes from Daejeon.

The estimated travel time from the Seoul tollgate to major cities nationwide is 5 hours 30 minutes to Busan, 5 hours 30 minutes to Ulsan, 4 hours 50 minutes to Daegu, 4 hours 10 minutes to Gwangju, 3 hours to Gangneung, and 2 hours 30 minutes to Daejeon.

The expected nationwide traffic volume for the day is about 6.12 million vehicles. It is expected that 490,000 vehicles will move from the metropolitan area to local areas, and 470,000 vehicles will move from local areas to the metropolitan area. The Expressway Corporation expects that the congestion in the direction of going home will clear between 8 and 9 p.m., and the return traffic will ease around 2 to 3 a.m. on the 23rd.

On the Gyeongbu Expressway heading toward Seoul, slow traffic is observed over a total of 76 km in sections including Bukdaegu to Chilgok (10 km), near Yeongdong to Yeongdong 1 Tunnel (7 km), Biryong Junction to Daejeon Tunnel (2 km), near Cheongju Rest Area to near Anseong Junction (45 km), near Pangyo (1 km), and Geumto Junction to Banpo (11 km).

In the direction of Busan, congestion is seen in sections such as Hannam to Mannam Plaza Rest Area (8 km), Seoul Tollgate to Suwon (10 km), Osan to near Namsa (9 km), Anseong Junction to Bukcheonan (15 km), near Cheonan Rest Area to Oksan Rest Area (14 km), Cheongju Junction to Jukam Rest Area (8 km), Ocheon Rest Area to Ocheon 4 Tunnel (9 km), Chilgok Junction to Geumto Junction (4 km), near Bukdaegu to near Dodong Junction (6 km), Seoul Main Junction to near Yangsan (13 km), Yangsan Junction (3 km), and the starting point of the Gyeongbu Line (1 km).

On the Seohaean Expressway heading toward Seoul, stop-and-go traffic is occurring in sections including near Dangjin Junction to Seohae Bridge (20 km), near Seopyeongtaek Junction to near Hwaseong Rest Area (10 km), Bibong to Maesong (5 km), and Iljik Junction to Geumcheon (4 km). In the direction of Mokpo, stop-and-go traffic is seen in sections such as Gwangmyeong Station to Mokgam (1 km), Seopyeongtaek Junction to Seohae Bridge (11 km), and Seosan to near Unsan Tunnel (2 km).

On the Jungbu Expressway heading toward Hanam, turtle-speed traffic is observed in sections including Namyi Junction to Ochang (12 km), Jeungpyeong to near Jincheon (8 km), Iljuk to Moga (12 km), and near Majang Rest Area to Gonjiam Junction (6 km). In the direction of Namyi, slow traffic is seen in sections such as Gonjiam Junction (1 km), Hobup Junction to Namicheon IC (6 km), and near Ochang Rest Area to near Seocheongju (12 km).

On the Jungbu Naeryuk Line heading toward Yangpyeong, traffic is moving below normal speed in sections including near Yeongsan to near Changnyeong (8 km), near Seonsan to near Sangju Tunnel (7 km), near Jeomchon Hamchang to near Jinnam Tunnel (10 km), Yeonpung to Yeonpung Tunnel (2 km), near Chungju Junction to near Gamgok (13 km), and near Yeoju Junction (1 km). In the direction of Changwon, slow traffic is observed in sections such as Sangju to near Sangju Tunnel (10 km) and near Nakdong Junction to near Sangju Tunnel (2 km).