The Second Day of Chuseok Holiday Sees Continued Homebound Traffic... Seoul to Busan Takes 7 Hours 30 Minutes

On the morning of the second day of the Chuseok holiday, the 15th, the homecoming traffic continues, causing congestion on major highways across the country.

On the afternoon of the first day of the Chuseok holiday, the southbound lane of the Gyeongbu Expressway at Jamwon IC in Seocho-gu, Seoul, is crowded with vehicles heading home. / Photo by Yonhap News

According to the Korea Expressway Corporation, as of 9 a.m. today, the estimated travel times by passenger car from Seoul Tollgate to major cities are 7 hours 30 minutes to Busan, 7 hours to Ulsan, 6 hours 40 minutes to Mokpo, 6 hours 30 minutes to Daegu, 6 hours to Gwangju, 4 hours 30 minutes to Gangneung, and 4 hours 10 minutes to Daejeon.

The estimated travel times from each city to Seoul are 5 hours 10 minutes from Busan, 4 hours 40 minutes from Ulsan, 3 hours 40 minutes from Mokpo, 4 hours 10 minutes from Daegu, 3 hours 20 minutes from Gwangju, 2 hours 40 minutes from Gangneung, and 1 hour 30 minutes from Daejeon.

On the Gyeongbu Expressway heading toward Busan, congestion is occurring in sections including Jamwon to Seocho (3 km), near Osan to Anseong Junction (12 km), Manghyang Rest Area to Cheongju Junction (45 km), and Daejeon Tunnel to Biryong Junction (2 km). On the Seohaean Expressway heading toward Mokpo, vehicles are moving slowly in the 15 km section near Seopyeongtaek Junction to Seohae Bridge.

On the Jungbu Expressway heading toward Namyi, traffic is crawling in sections including Majang Junction to Namicheon IC (11 km), near Jincheon Tunnel (3 km), and near Seocheongju to Namyi Junction (7 km). On the Yeongdong Expressway heading toward Gangneung, vehicle movement is delayed in sections near Singal Junction (3 km), Maseong Tunnel to Yongin (4 km), Yongin to Yangji Tunnel (6 km), and near Hobeop Junction (3 km).

Additionally, on the Seoul-Yangyang Expressway heading toward Yangyang, congestion is occurring in sections including Gangil to Seojong (20 km) and near Joyang to Chuncheon Junction (5 km). On the Jungbu Naeryuk Expressway heading toward Changwon, vehicles are repeatedly stopping and going in sections including Yeoju Junction to Gamgok (10 km) and Chungju Junction to Bukchungju (7 km).

The Expressway Corporation expects the heaviest congestion in the homecoming direction today during the holiday period. The return direction is expected to be generally smooth. Congestion in the homecoming direction is expected to start between 5 and 6 a.m., peak around noon to 1 p.m., and ease by 8 to 9 p.m. The return direction is expected to begin congesting between 10 and 11 a.m., peak around 4 to 5 p.m., and clear by 8 to 9 p.m.

The estimated nationwide traffic volume for today is 5.96 million vehicles. It is expected that 520,000 vehicles will move from the metropolitan area to local regions, and 420,000 vehicles will move from local regions to the metropolitan area.