Highway tolls 'charged as usual' during Seol holiday... Only takeout available for rest area food

Heavy Traffic Expected on Homebound Routes This Morning and Return Routes on the Afternoon of the 13th

On the 10th, one day before the Lunar New Year holiday, an employee is disinfecting an unmanned meal ticket vending machine at the Mannam Square rest area on the Seoul-Gyeongbu Expressway heading toward Busan. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport has designated the five days from today until the end of the Lunar New Year holiday on the 14th as the "Lunar New Year Special Traffic Measures Period" to strengthen COVID-19 prevention. Eating inside stores at highway rest areas is prohibited, and only takeout is allowed. Photo by Moon Honam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Heeyoon] During the Lunar New Year holiday period, highway tolls will be charged as usual, and food at highway rest areas will only be allowed for takeout.

According to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and Korea Expressway Corporation on the 11th, highway tolls will be charged normally for three days from this day until the 13th. The government has waived highway tolls for three days during holidays in the past, but announced that tolls will be charged as usual this Lunar New Year, following last year's Chuseok.

Also, during the Lunar New Year holiday period, indoor seating at all highway rest areas managed by the Expressway Corporation will be prohibited, and food will only be allowed for takeout. Outdoor stores selling snacks and convenience stores will operate normally.

The Ministry of Land expects that the number of visitors returning to their hometowns during this year's Lunar New Year holiday will decrease by about 33% compared to last year, recording approximately 21.92 million people due to the impact of COVID-19. However, as people avoid public transportation and prefer using private vehicles due to COVID-19, highway congestion is expected.

Meanwhile, the return trip to hometowns is expected to be most congested on the morning of the day before Lunar New Year, and the return trip home is expected to be most congested on the afternoon of the day after Lunar New Year, the 13th.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.