Severe Traffic Congestion in Both Directions on Nationwide Highways... Busan to Seoul Takes 7 Hours 50 Minutes

Relief Expected on Return Trip Home Between 8-9 PM and Return Trip to City Between 2-3 AM

On the 20th, one day before the Lunar New Year holiday, the Gyeongbu Expressway heading towards Busan near Jamwon IC in Seoul is showing congestion. Photo by Dongju Yoon doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Seongpil Cho] On the afternoon of the Lunar New Year’s Day, the 22nd, both outbound and inbound traffic surged simultaneously, causing severe congestion in many sections of major highways nationwide.

According to Korea Expressway Corporation, as of 2 PM today, the estimated travel time for regular vehicles from major cities nationwide to the Seoul tollgate is 7 hours 50 minutes from Busan, 7 hours 20 minutes from Ulsan, 6 hours 40 minutes from Daegu, 6 hours 10 minutes from Gwangju, 3 hours 50 minutes from Gangneung, and 4 hours 10 minutes from Daejeon. Conversely, the estimated travel time from the Seoul tollgate to major cities nationwide is 7 hours 20 minutes to Busan, 7 hours to Ulsan, 6 hours 20 minutes to Daegu, 5 hours 30 minutes to Gwangju, 4 hours 10 minutes to Gangneung, and 3 hours 40 minutes to Daejeon.

Since the afternoon, the number of congested sections in both directions of major highways has significantly increased. On the Seoul-bound side of the Gyeongbu Expressway, traffic is crawling over a total of 72 km, including 5 km from Yangsan Junction to Yangsan, 7 km from Bukdaegu to Geumho Junction, 39 km from Mokcheon to Anseong Junction, 5 km from Seoul tollgate to Pangyo Junction, and 12 km from Geumto Junction to Banpo. On the Busan-bound side, congestion extends over a total of 94 km, including 7 km from Jukjeon to Suwon, 11 km from Dongtan Junction to Namsa, 12 km from Manghyang Rest Area to Mokcheon, 11 km from Oksan Junction to Oksan Rest Area, 8 km from Cheongju Junction to Jukam Rest Area, 9 km from Hoedeok Junction to Biryong Junction, and 8 km from Geumho Junction to Dodong Junction.

On the Seoul-bound side of the Seohaean Expressway, traffic is slow over a total of 59 km, including 6 km from Mokpo tollgate to Mongtan 2 Tunnel, 9 km from Seokimje to Donggunsan, 20 km from Dangjin Junction to Seohae Bridge, and 10 km from Seopyeongtaek Junction to Hwaseong Rest Area. On the Mokpo-bound side, congestion covers a total of 21 km, including 9 km from Bibong to Hwaseong Rest Area and 11 km from Seopyeongtaek Junction to Seohae Bridge.

On the Hanam-bound side of the Jungbu Expressway, congestion occurs over sections including 12 km from Nami Junction to Ochang, 8 km from Jeungpyeong to Jincheon, 12 km from Iljuk to Moga, and 13 km from Gyeonggi Gwangju Junction to Jungbu 1 Tunnel. On the Nami-bound side, traffic is slow over sections including 5 km from Hanam Junction to Dongseoul tollgate, 2 km near Jungbu 3 Tunnel, 6 km from Hobeop Junction to Namicheon IC, and 7 km from Jincheon to Jincheon Tunnel.

On the Incheon-bound side of the Yeongdong Expressway, vehicles repeatedly stop and go over sections including 8 km from Bongpyeong Tunnel to Dunnae Tunnel, 17 km from Deokpyeong Rest Area to Yongin, and 18 km from Dongsuwon to Banwol Tunnel. On the Gangneung-bound side, congestion occurs over sections including 16 km from Seoansan to Bugok, 12 km from Maseong Tunnel to Yangji Tunnel, and 7 km from Yeoju Rest Area to Yeoju Junction.

The Expressway Corporation estimated the nationwide traffic volume today at 6.12 million vehicles. It is expected that 490,000 vehicles will move from the metropolitan area to provinces, and 470,000 vehicles will move from provinces to the metropolitan area. The corporation forecasted that congestion in the outbound direction will ease between 8 and 9 PM, while the inbound traffic will peak between 3 and 4 PM and will clear by 2 to 3 AM on the 23rd.

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