Traffic Still Congested in Many Parts of the Expressway... Seoul to Busan Takes 4 Hours 40 Minutes

Homebound Vehicles and Early Return Vehicles Crowd, Increasing Congestion Sections
From Seoul, Busan Expected in 4 Hours 40 Minutes, Gwangju in 3 Hours 20 Minutes, Daegu in 3 Hours 40 Minutes

Expected travel times between major cities as of 1:30 PM on the 11th. Photo by Korea Expressway Corporation website capture

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Heeyoon] On the first day of the Lunar New Year holiday, the afternoon of the 11th saw heavy traffic on highways nationwide as returning home vehicles caused congestion in various sections.

According to Korea Expressway Corporation, as of 12:30 PM that day, the Gyeongbu Expressway heading towards Busan had traffic congestion over a total of 30 km, including an 18 km stretch near Oksan Junction to Nami Junction.

The Jungbu Expressway had congestion over 26 km, including a 9 km section near Seocheongju towards Nami Junction, and the Jungbu Naeryuk Expressway had congestion over 26 km, including a 16 km stretch near Mungyeong 2 Tunnel to Mungyeong Rest Area heading towards Changwon.

The Seohaean Expressway towards Mokpo had congestion over 14 km, including a 10 km section near Seopyeongtaek Junction to Seohae Bridge, and towards Seoul, there was congestion over a 2 km section near Geumcheon. On the Seoul-Yangyang Expressway, vehicles were stop-and-go over a 15 km stretch, including a 4 km section near Deoksosampae towards Namyangju Tollgate.

On the Yeongdong Expressway, vehicles were moving slowly over 32 km, including a 14 km section near Deokpyeong Rest Area to Yeoju Rest Area heading towards Gangneung, and towards Incheon, there was slow traffic over a 2 km section near Wolgot Junction.

The Expressway Corporation predicted a total nationwide traffic volume of 3.78 million vehicles that day. It was expected that 410,000 vehicles would move from the metropolitan area to local regions, and 320,000 vehicles from local regions to the metropolitan area.

Traffic heading home started to congest between 4 and 5 AM, peaked between 11 AM and 12 PM, and was expected to clear between 5 and 6 PM. Traffic returning to the metropolitan area began to congest between 8 and 9 AM, was worst between 12 PM and 1 PM, and was expected to ease between 4 and 5 PM.

Meanwhile, as of 1:30 PM, the estimated travel times by passenger car from Seoul Tollgate to major cities nationwide were 4 hours 40 minutes to Busan, 3 hours 20 minutes to Gwangju, 3 hours 40 minutes to Daegu, and 2 hours 50 minutes to Gangneung.

A corporation official stated, "The actual traffic volume recorded nationwide by 12:30 PM was 1.48 million vehicles," adding, "20,000 vehicles moved from the metropolitan area to local regions, and 110,000 vehicles moved from local regions to the metropolitan area."

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