Severe Two-Way Traffic Jam During Chuseok... Seoul to Busan Takes 8 Hours 10 Minutes

On the 29th, Chuseok day, late afternoon outbound traffic and early return traffic overlapped, causing vehicle congestion in various sections of major highways nationwide in both directions.

According to the Korea Expressway Corporation, as of 1 p.m., the estimated travel time by passenger car from Seoul Tollgate to major cities nationwide is 8 hours 10 minutes to Busan, 7 hours to Ulsan, 6 hours 20 minutes to Daegu, 5 hours 50 minutes to Gwangju, 4 hours 20 minutes to Gangneung, and 3 hours 50 minutes to Daejeon.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Conversely, the travel time to Seoul Tollgate is 7 hours 40 minutes from Busan, 8 hours 4 minutes from Ulsan, 7 hours 24 minutes from Daegu, 5 hours 50 minutes from Gwangju, 3 hours 30 minutes from Gangneung, and 3 hours 40 minutes from Daejeon.

On the Gyeongbu Expressway heading toward Busan, congestion is occurring in several sections including Hannam to Seocho (4 km), Seoul Tollgate to Suwon (11 km), Giheung-Dongtan to near Namsa (15 km), near Anseong Junction to Anseong Rest Area (6 km), near Manghyang Rest Area to Cheonan Junction (12 km), Cheonan Rest Area to Namyi Junction (25 km), near Cheongju Junction to Jukam Rest Area (7 km), Hoedeok Junction to Biryong Junction (10 km), near Bukdaegu to Dodong Junction (8 km), and near Gyeongju Tunnel to near Geoncheon Rest Area (6 km).

On the Gyeongbu Line heading toward Seoul, vehicle movement is delayed in sections including near Dallaenae to Banpo (7 km), Giheung to Singal Junction (7 km), near Ipjang Rest Area to near Anseong Junction (15 km), near Cheongju to Oksan (5 km), Hoedeok Junction to near Cheongju Junction (17 km), and Bukdaegu to near Chilgok Junction (11 km).

On the Seohaean Expressway heading toward Mokpo, congestion is occurring in sections including Seo Seoul Tollgate to Yongdam Tunnel (8 km), near Hwaseong Rest Area to Seohae Bridge (24 km), near Dangjin (5 km), and near Dangjin Junction to near Unsan Tunnel (8 km). In the direction toward Seoul, stop-and-go traffic is repeated in sections including Gwangmyeong Station to Geumcheon (7 km), Balan to near Paltan Junction (5 km), Dangjin Junction to Seohae Bridge (20 km), and Mokpo Tollgate to near Mongtan 2 Tunnel (7 km).

On the Jungbu Expressway heading toward Namyi, speeds are slow in sections including near Jungbu 1 Tunnel to Gyeonggi Gwangju Junction (11 km), Hoebup Junction to near Namicheon IC (8 km), near Jincheon to near Jincheon Tunnel (10 km), and Ochang to Namyi Junction (13 km).

On the Jungbu Line heading toward Hanam, turtle-speed traffic continues in sections including near Iljuk to Moga (16 km), Ochang to near Jincheon Tunnel (11 km), and Namyi Junction to near Seo Cheongju (8 km).

On the Yeongdong Expressway heading toward Incheon, congestion is occurring in sections including Deokpyeong to near Yangji Tunnel (10 km) and near Buk Suwon to near Banwol Tunnel (12 km).

On the Yeongdong Line heading toward Gangneung, traffic is backed up in sections including Wonju Junction to near Wonju (5 km), near Icheon to Yeoju Junction (10 km), Yongin to near Yangji Tunnel (6 km), Singal Junction to Yongin (10 km), and Ansan to Bugok (13 km).

The Korea Expressway Corporation expects severe congestion in both directions as early return traffic begins alongside the outbound Chuseok traffic.

The total nationwide traffic volume is expected to be about 6.27 million vehicles. Of these, 480,000 vehicles are expected to move from the metropolitan area to local regions, and 480,000 vehicles from local regions to the metropolitan area.

Outbound congestion is expected to gradually ease from around 8 to 9 p.m. Return traffic congestion is expected to peak around 3 to 4 p.m. and to clear by 2 to 3 a.m. the following day.

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