Traffic congestion on highways in many areas on the second day of the holiday afternoon... Seoul to Busan takes 5 hours

On the afternoon of the second day of the Lunar New Year holiday, the 26th, traffic congestion is occurring at various points on highways nationwide.

An announcement about toll exemption on the highway is displayed at the Seoul Tollgate on the Gyeongbu Expressway. Photo by Yonhap News

According to the Korea Expressway Corporation, as of 5 p.m. on this day, the estimated travel times from Seoul Tollgate to major cities nationwide are 5 hours to Busan, 4 hours 30 minutes to Ulsan, 4 hours to Daegu and Mokpo, 3 hours 40 minutes to Gwangju, 2 hours 10 minutes to Daejeon, and 2 hours 40 minutes to Gangneung.

Conversely, the estimated travel times from each city to Seoul are 4 hours 30 minutes from Busan, 4 hours 20 minutes from Ulsan, 3 hours 20 minutes from Daegu, 3 hours 50 minutes from Mokpo, 3 hours 30 minutes from Gwangju, 1 hour 50 minutes from Daejeon, and 3 hours from Gangneung.

On the Gyeongbu Expressway heading toward Busan, congestion is occurring near Banpo to Seocho for 2 km, Jukjeon Rest Area to Suwon for 6 km, Cheonan to Cheonan Junction for 6 km, near Cheonan Rest Area to Cheongju Junction for 25 km, Daejeon Tunnel to Biryong Junction for 2 km, and near Nopo Junction for 1 km.

Also, on the Seohaean Expressway heading toward Mokpo, traffic flow is not smooth near Geumcheon for 1 km, near Sunsan Tunnel for 2 km, Paltan Junction to Hwaseong Rest Area for 4 km, Seopyeongtaek to Seohae Bridge for 6 km, and Dongseocheon Junction to Daemyeong Tunnel for 7 km.

On the expressway's northbound lanes, some sections are also unable to maintain normal speed. On the Gyeongbu Expressway heading toward Seoul, congestion is occurring near Oksan for 2 km, Oksan Junction to Cheongju Rest Area for 4 km, near Anseong Junction for 3 km, and Yangjae to Banpo for 5 km.

The return traffic congestion is expected to ease around 10 to 11 p.m. on this day. The Korea Expressway Corporation forecasted that 4.25 million vehicles will travel nationwide, including 410,000 vehicles moving from the metropolitan area to local regions and 300,000 vehicles moving from local regions to the metropolitan area.