Namsan Congestion Charge, 2,000 Won Collected Only for Downtown Direction Starting from the 15th

The Seoul Metropolitan Government announced on the 4th that starting from the 15th, the congestion tolls imposed on Namsan Tunnel No. 1 and No. 3 and their connecting roads will no longer be charged for outbound traffic, and a toll of 2,000 won will be collected only for inbound traffic toward the city center.

Photo by Yonhap News

The Namsan congestion toll has been charged at 2,000 won for both directions for 27 years since November 11, 1996. However, considering inflation over time, there have been opinions that the toll rate of 2,000 won is no longer effective, and that it is unreasonable to charge tolls not only for vehicles entering the congested city center but also for those exiting toward the relatively less congested outbound direction. Various views demanding system improvement have been continuously raised.

Accordingly, the city conducted an experiment to temporarily suspend the collection of Namsan congestion tolls for two months from March 17 to May 16 last year. Through the phased suspension process, the city, together with citizens, directly observed how traffic flow changed by direction and region and conducted traffic volume analysis. As a result, it was found that vehicles passing through the Namsan Tunnel and entering the congested city center increased congestion in the urban area, whereas vehicles exiting toward the outbound direction had relatively little impact on the less congested outskirts.

Based on this, the city held two advisory meetings with the Seoul Institute, traffic experts, and stakeholders, and subsequently completed administrative procedures such as a public hearing on December 20 and a review by the ‘Seoul City Transportation Committee’ on December 26 last year in accordance with the ‘Urban Traffic Readjustment Promotion Act.’

The city decided not to charge congestion tolls for vehicles exiting the Namsan Tunnel outbound direction but will continuously monitor traffic conditions on surrounding roads and, if necessary, manage on-site traffic flow by strengthening real-time traffic information provision.

Yoon Jong-jang, Director of the Seoul Metropolitan Government’s Urban Transportation Office, stated, “As the congestion toll, which has played a role in reducing private car use and promoting public transportation for about 27 years, faces change, we will make continuous efforts to faithfully reflect current traffic conditions and gain public consensus.”

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