Busan to Seoul 8 Hours 10 Minutes... Traffic Jams Along the Return Route

Return Traffic Jam Expected to Clear Around 3-4 AM on the 18th

On the afternoon of the 17th, Chuseok day, the return traffic is surging, causing congestion to intensify on major highways nationwide.

According to the Korea Expressway Corporation, as of 6 p.m. that day, the travel time from major city toll gates nationwide to the Seoul toll gate is 8 hours 10 minutes from Busan, 7 hours 40 minutes from Ulsan, 7 hours 10 minutes from Daegu, 7 hours from Mokpo, 6 hours from Gwangju, 4 hours 10 minutes from Daejeon, and 3 hours 50 minutes from Gangneung.

On the afternoon of the 14th, the southbound lane of the Gyeongbu Expressway Jamwon IC in Seocho-gu, Seoul [Image source=Yonhap News]

The travel time from Seoul to major cities is 4 hours 50 minutes to Busan, 4 hours 20 minutes to Ulsan, 3 hours 50 minutes to Daegu and Gangneung, 3 hours 40 minutes to Mokpo, 3 hours 30 minutes to Gwangju, and 1 hour 39 minutes to Daejeon.

According to the Expressway Corporation, congestion in the direction of returning home is expected to clear around 9 to 10 p.m. that day, and congestion in the direction of returning to the capital area is expected to clear around 3 to 4 a.m. on the 18th. The nationwide traffic volume is expected to reach approximately 6.69 million vehicles. It is estimated that 490,000 vehicles will move from the metropolitan area to local areas, and 510,000 vehicles will move from local areas to the metropolitan area.

On the Gyeongbu Expressway heading toward Seoul, congestion has appeared at the following sections: Geumto Junction to Banpo 11 km, near Giheung to Jukjeon 11 km, Cheonan Junction to Anseong Junction 31 km, Cheongju Junction to near Cheongju Rest Area 26 km, near Okcheon to Daejeon 11 km, near Yeongdong to near Yeongdong 1 Tunnel 9 km, near Chilgok Rest Area to near Namgumi 9 km, near Chilgok Junction 3 km, near Dodong Junction 3 km, Geoncheon Rest Area to near Gyeongju Tunnel 5 km, and near Yangsan 3 km.

In the direction toward Busan, vehicle movement is delayed in the following sections: Hannam to Seocho 4 km, near Jukjeon to Suwon 6 km, near Oksan Junction to Oksan Rest Area 11 km, Cheongju to near Jukap Rest Area 15 km, Chilgok Rest Area to near Waegwan 6 km, near Geumho Junction 2 km, near Yeongcheon Junction to near Gyeongju Tunnel 2 km, near Gyeongju to near Gyeongju Rest Area 3 km, near Eonyang Junction to near Eonyang Junction 4 km, and Seoulju Junction to Tongdosa 7 km.

On the Seohaean Expressway heading toward Seoul, congestion is occurring in the following sections: Gwangmyeong Station to Geumcheon 6 km, Bibong to Palgok Junction 7 km, near Seopyeongtaek Junction to Hwaseong Rest Area 8 km, near Dangjin Junction to Seohae Bridge 22 km, Daecheon to near Daecheon Rest Area 4 km, near Bi Tunnel to near Ungcheon Tunnel 8 km, near Daemyeong Tunnel to Dongseocheon Junction 7 km, near Yeonggwang to near Gochang 14 km, and Mokpo Tollgate to near Mongtan 3 Tunnel 5 km.

On the Jungbu Expressway heading toward Hanam, congestion sections include Manam Rest Area to Hanam Junction 1.5 km, near Gyeonggi Gwangju Junction to near Jungbu 1 Tunnel 12 km, Seoicheon to Gonjiam 11 km, near Iljuk to Moga 14 km, near Jincheon Tunnel to near Jincheon 11 km, and Namyi Junction to near Seo Cheongju 7 km.

In the direction toward Namyi, vehicles are unable to speed up in the sections near Gonjiam to Gonjiam Junction 4 km, near Jincheon to near Jincheon Tunnel 6 km, and near Ochang Junction to near Seo Cheongju 6 km.

On the Yeongdong Expressway heading toward Gangneung, congestion is occurring in the sections Gunpo to Bugok 4 km, near Banwol Tunnel to Dundae Junction 2 km, and Seochang Junction to near Wolgot Junction 2 km.

In the direction toward Incheon, congestion is occurring in the sections Myeonon to Dunnae Tunnel 5 km, Hoengseong Rest Area to Saemal 8 km, near Saemal to near Wonju 3 km, near Gangcheon Tunnel to near Hobup Junction 25 km, Deokpyeong Rest Area to Yongin Rest Area 15 km, near Singal Junction to Singal Junction exit 3 km, Dong Suwon to near Gwanggyo Tunnel 2 km, Buk Suwon to near Banwol Tunnel 9 km, and near Gunja Junction to near Wolgot Junction 5 km.