Chuseok Highway Traffic Jam... 6 Hours 30 Minutes from Busan to Seoul

[Asia Economy Reporter Bu Aeri] On the afternoon of Chuseok, the 21st, traffic congestion on the highways is worsening as more vehicles return home.

According to the Korea Expressway Corporation, as of 4:10 PM on this day, the Seoul-bound lanes of the Gyeongbu Expressway experienced severe congestion over a total distance of 129 km, including areas near Dongdaegu Junction to Bukdaegu, Biryong Junction to Oksan Junction, Mokcheon to Namsa, and Dallaenae to Banpo.

On the Busan-bound lanes, vehicles repeatedly stopped and went over a 40 km stretch including Hannam to Seocho, near Osan to near Namsa, and Kumho Junction to near Bukdaegu.

The Seohaean Expressway heading toward Seoul was congested over a total of 92 km, including areas near Julpo to Buan, Dong Gunsan to Gunsan, Dangjin Junction to Seohae Bridge, and Seopyeongtaek Junction to Hwaseong Rest Area.

Vehicles were moving slowly over a 5 km stretch between Ansan Junction to Sunsan Tunnel and Paltan Junction to Hwaseong Rest Area.

On the Capital Region 1st Circular Expressway heading toward Guri, slow traffic was observed over 32 km including Hanam Junction to Gangil, Byeollae to Sapaesan Tunnel, and Gyeyang to Songnae. In the Ilsan direction, slow traffic was also reported over 28 km including Siheung to Songnae, Guri to Sangil, and Seongnam Tollgate to Pangyo Junction.

On the Jungbu Expressway heading toward Hanam, congestion spread over 69 km including Namyi Junction to near Ochang, Ochang Rest Area to near Jincheon, Iljuk to Hobup Junction, and Gonjiam to near Jungbu 1 Tunnel. On the Namhae Expressway heading toward Busan, congestion extended over 38 km near Gunbuk to near Changwon 2 Tunnel.

On the Yeongdong Expressway heading toward Incheon, vehicles were moving slowly over a total of 54 km including Hoengseong Rest Area to Saemal, Yeoju Junction to near Hobup Junction, and Hobup Junction to Yangji Tunnel.

The Expressway Corporation estimated the nationwide traffic volume to be 5.22 million vehicles on this day. Approximately 420,000 vehicles were moving from the metropolitan area to provincial areas, and about 480,000 vehicles were moving from provincial areas to the metropolitan area.

If departing from Seoul Tollgate by passenger car at 5 PM, the estimated travel times to major cities nationwide are 4 hours 50 minutes to Busan, 3 hours 30 minutes to Gwangju, and 4 hours 30 minutes to Ulsan.

Travel times from Busan to Seoul are expected to be 6 hours 30 minutes, and from Gwangju and Ulsan to Seoul approximately 5 hours and 6 hours 10 minutes respectively. The congestion in the direction of going home is expected to ease around 8 to 9 PM on this day, and the congestion in the return direction is expected to clear around 1 to 2 AM on the following day, the 22nd.

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