Highway Traffic Jam in Both Directions... Congestion Clears After 7 PM

As of 1 PM, Seoul to Busan takes 4 hours 50 minutes

On the second day of the Chuseok holiday, the 19th, vehicles are moving slowly toward Busan on the Gyeongbu Expressway near Jamwon IC in Seocho-gu, Seoul. Photo by Dongju Yoon doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Cha Min-young] On the afternoon of the 20th, one day before Chuseok, nationwide expressways are experiencing congestion in both directions of outbound and inbound traffic.

According to Korea Expressway Corporation, as of 12:10 PM that day, the Gyeongbu Expressway heading toward Busan is experiencing slow traffic over a 38 km stretch including Jamwon to Seocho, Singal Junction to Suwon, near Dongtan Junction to near Namsa, and near Cheonan Rest Area to near Nami Junction.

The Seoul-bound direction is congested over a 14 km stretch including near Dallaenae to Banpo, near Giheung to Suwon, and Cheongju to Oksan.

The Seohaean Expressway heading toward Mokpo is seeing increased vehicles and stop-and-go traffic over a 19 km stretch including Paltan Junction to near Hwaseong Rest Area, near Seopyeongtaek Junction to near Seohae Bridge, and near Dangjin Junction.

The Seoul-bound direction is experiencing slow traffic over about 20 km including Gwangmyeong Station to Geumcheon, and near Maesong Rest Area to Yongdam Tunnel.

On the Capital Region First Ring Expressway, in the direction of Guri, vehicles are crawling over a 24 km stretch including Seoun Junction to Songnae, and Suraksan Tunnel to Sapaesan Tunnel. In the direction of Ilsan, traffic is slow over a 23 km stretch including near Sorae Tunnel to Jungdong, and near Tongillo to Nogosan Tunnel.

The Yeongdong Expressway heading toward Gangneung is congested over a 17 km stretch including Myeonon to near Bongpyeong Tunnel, and the Incheon-bound direction is congested over a 5 km stretch including Buk Suwon to Bugok.

The Jungbu Expressway is experiencing traffic delays over a 13 km stretch toward Nami including Majang Junction to near Moga, and over an 8 km stretch toward Hanam including near Seocheongju to Ochang Junction.

Traffic volume nationwide was forecasted at 4.05 million vehicles that day. Of these, the Korea Expressway Corporation expected 390,000 vehicles to move from the metropolitan area to local regions, and 410,000 vehicles from local regions to the metropolitan area.

At 1 PM, the estimated travel time by passenger car from Seoul Tollgate to major cities nationwide was forecasted as follows: Busan 4 hours 50 minutes, Ulsan 4 hours 30 minutes, Daegu 3 hours 50 minutes, Gwangju 3 hours 30 minutes, Daejeon 2 hours 10 minutes, and Gangneung 2 hours 40 minutes.

The Korea Expressway Corporation anticipated that congestion in the outbound direction would ease around 7 to 8 PM. Traffic in the inbound direction was expected to be relatively smooth.

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