Traffic congestion on the afternoon of the second day of Chuseok holiday... Expected to clear after 8 PM

5 Hours from Seoul to Busan, 4 Hours 30 Minutes to Ulsan

On the afternoon of the second day of the Chuseok holiday, the 15th, vehicles are still moving slowly on some sections of the homecoming routes.

According to the Korea Expressway Corporation as of 5 p.m. that day, the estimated travel times for vehicles departing from the Seoul tollgate to reach major cities are 5 hours to Busan, 4 hours 30 minutes to Ulsan, 4 hours 10 minutes to Mokpo, 4 hours to Daegu, 3 hours 50 minutes to Gwangju, 2 hours 50 minutes to Gangneung, and 2 hours to Daejeon.

Conversely, the estimated travel times from each major city to the Seoul tollgate are 4 hours 30 minutes from Busan, 4 hours 10 minutes from Ulsan, 3 hours 40 minutes from Mokpo, 3 hours 30 minutes from Daegu, 2 hours 40 minutes from Gangneung, and 1 hour 50 minutes from Daejeon.

On the 13th, ahead of the Chuseok holiday, the southbound lanes of the Gyeongbu Expressway viewed from Jamwon IC in Seocho-gu, Seoul, are congested as returning holiday travelers and commuters crowd the road. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

On the Gyeongbu Expressway heading toward Busan, vehicle flow is slowing down over approximately 22 km from near Oksan Rest Area to Jukam Rest Area, and over an 11 km section from Hoedeok Junction to Biryong Junction. Vehicles are also moving slowly over about 6 km from near Jukjeon to Suwon.

On the Seohaean Expressway heading toward Mokpo, vehicles are unable to maintain speed over about 9 km from near Seopyeongtaek Junction to the Seohae Bridge section, 4 km from Paltan Junction to near Hwaseong Rest Area, and 1 km near Geumcheon.

On the Jungbu Expressway heading toward Nami, vehicles are repeatedly stopping and starting over a 9 km section near Jincheon Tunnel and a 5 km section from Hobeop Junction to Moga.

Additionally, on the Yeongdong Expressway heading toward Gangneung, vehicles are congested over a 3 km section from Myeonon to Bongpyeong Tunnel, and on the Capital Region 1st Circular Expressway heading toward Guri, congestion occurs over a 7 km section from Gyeyang to Songnae.

Some sections of the return routes are also experiencing slow vehicle speeds.

On the Gyeongbu Expressway heading toward Seoul, vehicles are moving slowly over approximately 11 km from Oksan Junction to near Mokcheon, 6 km from near Yangjae to Banpo, and 2 km near Suwon.

Expected travel time between major cities as of 5 PM on the 15th [Image source=Captured from Korea Expressway Corporation website]

On the Seohaean Expressway heading toward Seoul, congestion occurs over 4 km sections near Dangjin to Seohae Bridge, and from Iljik Junction to Geumcheon. On the Jungbu Expressway heading toward Hanam, congestion is also occurring over a 4 km section in the Ochang area.

The Korea Expressway Corporation expects that congestion for both outbound and return vehicles will ease between 8 p.m. and 9 p.m. that day.

The nationwide traffic volume is estimated at about 5.96 million vehicles, with approximately 520,000 vehicles moving from the metropolitan area to local regions, and 420,000 vehicles moving from local regions to the metropolitan area.