Heavy Snowfall Causes Traffic Jams and Multiple Accidents on Highways Ahead of Lunar New Year Eve

by Lee Minwoo

Published 28 Jan.2025 17:21(KST)

Traffic Expected to Ease After 8 p.m.

On the 28th, the day before Lunar New Year, nationwide heavy snowfall caused traffic congestion and accidents on various sections of the highways.

According to Korea Expressway Corporation, as of 5 p.m. that day, the estimated travel time by passenger car from Seoul Tollgate to Busan was 5 hours and 20 minutes. Following that, Ulsan was 4 hours and 50 minutes, Daegu 4 hours and 20 minutes, Gwangju 4 hours and 10 minutes, Mokpo 4 hours, Gangneung 2 hours and 40 minutes, and Daejeon 2 hours and 10 minutes.

The estimated travel times from each city to Seoul were Busan 6 hours, Ulsan 5 hours and 30 minutes, Daegu 5 hours, Mokpo 4 hours and 30 minutes, Gwangju and Gangneung 4 hours and 10 minutes, and Daejeon 2 hours and 20 minutes.

Major congestion sections included 3 km from Yangjae to Banpo towards Seoul on the Gyeongbu Expressway, 5 km near Anseong to Anseong Junction, 5 km from near Ipjang Rest Area to Anseong, 14 km from near Oksan to Cheongju Rest Area, 2 km near Jukam Rest Area, and 3 km from Shintanjin Rest Area to Shintanjin.

In the direction towards Busan, slow traffic continued over 3 km near Cheonan to Cheonan Junction, 12 km near Oksan Junction to Oksan, and 2 km near Cheongju.

On the Seohaean Expressway towards Seoul, congestion was reported over 14 km near Seopyeongtaek Junction to Hwaseong Rest Area, 3 km from Poseung Junction to Seopyeongtaek, 6 km near Seocheon to Jongcheon Tunnel, and 5 km near Gunsan to Dongseocheon Junction. Towards Mokpo, vehicles were congested over 6 km from Dangjin Junction to Seosan.

Additionally, on the Jungbu Expressway towards Hanam, traffic was stop-and-go over 6 km near Iljuk, 2 km near Jincheon, 7 km from Nami Junction to Seocheongju, 7 km from Hobup Junction to Namicheon IC towards Nami, and 9 km near Daeso to Daeso Junction.

Traffic accidents also occurred. On the Pyeongtaek-Jecheon Expressway towards Pyeongtaek, lanes 2 to 3 near Pyeongtaek Tunnel were congested due to a cargo truck accident. An accident also occurred near Sangju Tunnel on the Jungbu Naeryuk Expressway towards Yangpyeong and is currently being cleared.