Busan to Seoul 7 Hours 10 Minutes... Peak Between 4 and 5 PM

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Jung-yoon] As traffic congestion on the return home journey intensifies on the 23rd, traffic jams are occurring at various points on major highways nationwide.

According to Korea Expressway Corporation, as of 12 PM on this day, the Seoul-bound lanes of the Gyeongbu Expressway are congested over a total distance of 53 km, including 8 km near Dallaenae to Banpo, 4 km near Anseong Junction, 10 km from Bukcheonan to Anseong, 3 km near Mokcheon, and 9 km from Cheongju to Oksan.

The Busan-bound lanes of the Gyeongbu Expressway are also slow over 31 km, including 6 km from Hannam to Yangjae, 6 km near Osan to Namsa, 7 km near Cheonan to Mokcheon, and 12 km from Geumho Junction to Dodong Junction.

The Seoul-bound lanes of the Seohaean Expressway are crawling over 64 km, including 4 km from Iljik Junction to Geumcheon, 4 km near Maesong Rest Area to Yongdam Tunnel, and 9 km near Seopyeongtaek Junction to Hwaseong Rest Area.

At 1 PM on this day, the estimated travel times by passenger car from major cities nationwide to the Seoul tollgate are: Busan 7 hours 10 minutes, Ulsan 6 hours 50 minutes, Daegu 6 hours 10 minutes, Gwangju 6 hours 10 minutes, Gangneung 4 hours, and Daejeon 3 hours 10 minutes.

Conversely, from the Seoul tollgate to major cities nationwide, the travel times are: Busan 5 hours 20 minutes, Ulsan 5 hours, Daegu 4 hours 20 minutes, Gwangju 3 hours 20 minutes, Gangneung 3 hours 30 minutes, and Daejeon 1 hour 40 minutes.

The expected nationwide traffic volume for this day is approximately 5.13 million vehicles, with an estimated 380,000 vehicles moving from the metropolitan area to provinces, and 510,000 vehicles moving from provinces to the metropolitan area.

Traffic congestion in both directions for outbound and return trips is expected to peak around 4 to 5 PM. Congestion in the outbound direction is expected to ease around 7 to 8 PM, and in the return direction around midnight to 1 AM on the following day, the 24th.