Severe Traffic Jam on Chuseok Day Return Trip... Seoul to Busan Takes 7 Hours 20 Minutes

On the morning of the 29th, Chuseok day, the procession of people returning to their hometowns continued, causing congestion on major highways across the country. Early return traffic also began on this day, and congestion is expected in both directions.

On the morning of the first day of the Chuseok holiday, the entrance ramp to Yongin IC on the Yeongdong Expressway in Yongin-si, Gyeonggi-do is congested.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

According to the Korea Expressway Corporation, as of 8 a.m., the estimated travel times by passenger car from Seoul Tollgate to major cities nationwide are 7 hours 20 minutes to Busan, 6 hours 11 minutes to Ulsan, 6 hours to Daegu, 5 hours 10 minutes to Gwangju, 6 hours 10 minutes to Mokpo, 3 hours 40 minutes to Gangneung, and 3 hours 20 minutes to Daejeon.

On the Gyeongbu Expressway heading toward Busan, congestion has formed in the following sections: Hannam to Seocho (4 km), Seoul Tollgate to Singal Junction (9 km), Giheung Rest Area to near Namsa (18 km), near Manghyang Rest Area to near Oksan (39 km), near Oksan Junction to near Oksan (13 km), and near Cheongju to Nami Junction (3 km). In the direction toward Seoul, congestion is occurring in the 5 km section from near Yangjae to Banpo.

On the Jungbu Expressway heading toward Nami, vehicles are moving slowly in the following sections: Hanam Junction to Sangok Junction (8 km), near Jungbu 1 Tunnel to near Gyeonggi Gwangju Junction (11 km), Majang Junction to near Namicheon IC (11 km), and near Seo Cheongju to Nami Junction (7 km).

On the Yeongdong Expressway heading toward Gangneung, congestion continues in the sections from Yongin to near Yangji Tunnel (6 km), Singal Junction to Yongin (11 km), and near Banwol Tunnel to Bugok (8 km).

On the Seohaean Expressway heading toward Mokpo, vehicles are crawling in the sections from Maesong to near Hwaseong Rest Area (15 km) and from Balan to Seohae Bridge (19 km).

The Korea Expressway Corporation forecasted that with early return traffic starting from this day, the mix of people traveling for ancestral rites and visiting relatives along with return traffic will cause severe congestion in both directions.

In the direction of going home, congestion is expected to start between 6 and 7 a.m., peak between 1 and 2 p.m., and ease between 8 and 9 p.m. In the return direction, congestion is expected to begin between 9 and 10 a.m., peak between 3 and 4 p.m., and clear by 2 to 3 a.m. the following day.

The expected traffic volume for the day is approximately 6.27 million vehicles, with 480,000 vehicles moving from the metropolitan area to the provinces and 480,000 vehicles moving from the provinces to the metropolitan area.

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