Highway congestion to ease from 4 PM... Seoul to Busan in 4 hours 30 minutes

by Kim Heeyun

Published 31 Jan.2022 15:20(KST)

Traffic Congestion Continues on Sections of Seohaean Expressway and Yeongdong Expressway

On the 30th, during the Lunar New Year holiday, traffic congestion continues on the southbound lanes (right side) of the Gyeongbu Expressway as seen from Jamwon IC in Seocho-gu, Seoul. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Heeyoon] On the third day of the Lunar New Year holiday, the afternoon of the 31st, major expressways nationwide experienced some congestion and traffic jams, but traffic congestion in the direction of returning home is expected to gradually ease around 4 to 5 PM.

According to Korea Expressway Corporation, as of 2 PM that day, the Gyeongbu Expressway towards Busan had congestion in the 2 km section from Singal Junction to Suwon and the 8 km section from Ipjang to Manghyang Rest Area.

The Seohaean Expressway towards Mokpo was congested in the 5 km section from Seopyeongtaek to Seohae Bridge. The Yeongdong Expressway towards Gangneung had congestion in the 2 km section near Maseong Tunnel to Yongin.

Based on tollgate data at 2 PM that day, the Expressway Corporation estimated that it would take approximately ▲ Seoul→Busan 4 hours 30 minutes ▲ Seoul→Gwangju 3 hours 20 minutes ▲ Seoul→Daegu 3 hours 30 minutes ▲ Seoul→Gangneung 2 hours 40 minutes ▲ Seoul→Daejeon 1 hour 40 minutes by passenger car.

The Expressway Corporation estimated the nationwide traffic volume at 4.32 million vehicles. Among them, about 390,000 vehicles were expected to move from the metropolitan area to local areas, and about 390,000 vehicles from local areas to the metropolitan area.

Traffic congestion in the direction of returning home was the worst around 1 PM. However, as congestion gradually eased, the Expressway Corporation predicted that the traffic jams would be cleared by around 5 PM.