Seoul to Gangneung Expected to Take 5 Hours... "Take a Break if You Feel Sleepy on the Way Home"

More Traffic Than Last Year's Lunar New Year Holiday
Operation of Freight Truck Lounges and Drowsy Driving Rest Areas

As severe traffic congestion is expected during this year's Lunar New Year holiday, authorities have stepped up safety measures to prevent drowsy driving.

On the 7th, the Gangwon Headquarters of Korea Expressway Corporation announced that the average daily traffic volume on expressways in the Gangwon region during the Lunar New Year holiday is expected to reach about 362,000 vehicles, a 5.5% increase compared to last year's holiday period. The travel time from Seoul to Gangneung is estimated to be 5 hours and 5 minutes, while the return trip from Gangneung to Seoul is expected to take about 4 hours and 40 minutes.

In particular, traffic volume on the holiday itself, February 10th, is projected to be around 440,000 vehicles, a 10.3% increase compared to 399,000 vehicles last year. The expected peak congestion times are from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the 9th for outbound traffic, and from noon to 8 p.m. on the 10th for inbound traffic.

On the 8th, one day before the Lunar New Year holiday, the full-scale homecoming battle began, causing traffic congestion as vehicles crowded the southbound lanes toward Busan on the Seoul Gyeongbu Expressway.
[Photo by Jo Yongjun]

With nationwide traffic congestion anticipated, authorities have begun preparing safety accident countermeasures. Since expressway congestion is expected, efforts will focus on preventing drowsy driving accidents. According to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and Korea Expressway Corporation, from 2019 until June of last year, there were a total of 1,642 drowsy driving accidents on expressways. These resulted in 232 deaths and 1,038 injuries, totaling 1,270 casualties.

Korea Expressway Corporation plans to operate truck lounges and drowsy rest areas on expressways, install banners, and strengthen patrols during vulnerable seasons and times to prevent drowsy driving.

Heo Pil-seong, team leader at the Gangwon Headquarters of Korea Expressway Corporation, said, "Since long hours of driving are expected during the holiday period, it is necessary to thoroughly check vehicles before departure and take sufficient rest at rest areas or drowsy rest spots if drowsiness occurs while driving."

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