Traffic Jams on Highway During Return Trip... Busan to Seoul Takes 6 Hours

Some Final Traffic Jams Appear on the Way Home for Chuseok

On the afternoon of the third day of the Chuseok holiday, the 30th, traffic congestion continues on the way back home in various places.

The upper (left) and lower lanes near Jamwon IC on the Seoul Gyeongbu Expressway are crowded with vehicles. [Image source=Yonhap News]

According to Korea Expressway Corporation, as of 5 p.m. on this day, the estimated travel time from toll gates in each region to the Seoul toll gate is 6 hours from Busan, 5 hours 30 minutes from Ulsan, 5 hours 10 minutes from Gwangju, 4 hours 50 minutes from Daegu, 3 hours 10 minutes from Daejeon, and 3 hours 23 minutes from Gangneung. Compared to the travel time at 1 p.m., it has decreased by about 10 to 50 minutes, but congestion continues in many sections.

In some areas, last-minute traffic jams on the way to hometown are also appearing. On the Seoul-bound side of the Gyeongbu Expressway, cars are repeatedly stopping and going in the sections from near Bukdaegu to near Geumho Junction (2 km), near Yeongdong to Yeongdong 1 Tunnel (8 km), Biryong Junction to near Daejeon (7 km), Namcheongju to near Cheongju Rest Area (25 km), near Mokcheon to Mokcheon (3 km), near Bukcheonan to near Anseong Junction (17 km), and near Yangjae to Banpo (7 km).

On the Busan-bound side, traffic is increasing and causing congestion in the sections near Tongdosa Rest Area to Seokgye Bus Stop (8 km), near Cheonan Rest Area to Nami Junction (22 km), Singal Junction to Suwon (3 km), and Hannam to Seocho (4 km).

On the Seoul-bound side of the Seohaean Expressway, cars are congested in the sections near Mongtan 3 Tunnel to Mongtan 2 Tunnel (4 km), Gochang Junction to near Julpo (18 km), Donggunsan to Dongseocheon Junction (15 km), near Seocheon (4 km), Hongseong to near Hongseong (2 km), near Dangjin Junction to Seohae Bridge (21 km), near Hwaseong Rest Area to Hwaseong Rest Area (2 km), near Maesong Rest Area to Yongdam Tunnel (4 km), and Iljik Junction to Geumcheon (4 km).

On the Jungbu Line towards Hanam, traffic flow is slow in the sections from Nami Junction to near Seo Cheongju (9 km), from Ochang Rest Area to near Jincheon Tunnel (5 km), near Iljuk to Moga (10 km), and near Jungbu 3 Tunnel to near Jungbu 1 Tunnel (6 km). Towards Nami, there is congestion in the sections from Ochang to Nami Junction (12 km), from Daeso Junction to near Jincheon Tunnel (15 km), and near Moga to near Namicheon IC (5 km).

On the Yeongdong Line towards Incheon, cars are crawling in the sections from Deokpyeong to Yongin Rest Area (13 km), from Yeoju Junction to near Hobup Junction (13 km), near Hoengseong Rest Area to Saemal (6 km), from Pyeongchang to Dunnae Tunnel (11 km), and near Jinbu to Jinbu 2 Terminal (4 km).

The Korea Expressway Corporation expected that 5.42 million vehicles would travel nationwide on this day. Among them, 400,000 vehicles are expected to move from the metropolitan area to local areas, and 520,000 vehicles from local areas to the metropolitan area. It also forecasted that the traffic congestion on the way back home would peak between 4 and 5 p.m. and be cleared by 1 to 2 a.m. on October 1. The congestion on the way to hometown is expected to clear between 9 and 10 p.m.

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