Chuseok Travel Rush to Peak at 10 a.m. on October 5-6 for Outbound, 2 p.m. on October 8 for Return

32.18 Million Expected to Travel; 6.67 Million Vehicles on Expressways on Chuseok Day
Seoul to Busan Takes 8 Hours 10 Minutes; Return Trip May Approach 10 Hours
AI at Seoul Tollgate to Monitor Seatbelt Use for All Passengers

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport announced on September 29 that during this year's Chuseok holiday, which will last for 11 days from October 2 to 12, the roads heading out of the city are expected to be most congested on the day before Chuseok and the morning of Chuseok itself, while the return traffic is expected to peak in the afternoon two days after Chuseok.

According to a survey conducted by the Korea Transport Institute from August 22 to 28 on 9,911 people regarding travel patterns during the Chuseok holiday, the most popular times for departure to visit hometowns were 10 to 11 a.m. on October 5 (the day before Chuseok) and the morning of October 6 (Chuseok day), each accounting for 14.8%. For the return trip, the most preferred departure time was 2 to 3 p.m. on October 8, with 16.4% of respondents choosing this slot.

On September 13 last year, ahead of the Chuseok holiday, the southbound lanes of the Gyeongbu Expressway viewed from Jamwon IC in Seocho-gu, Seoul, were congested due to a mix of holiday travelers and commuters. Photo by Kang Jinhyung

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport forecasts that 32.18 million people will travel during this year's Chuseok holiday. On average, 7.75 million people are expected to be on the move each day, but on Chuseok day itself, the number is projected to reach 9.33 million, making it the most crowded day.

Passenger cars will account for the majority of transportation, at 84.5%. The average daily traffic volume on expressways is expected to be 5.42 million vehicles, with a record high of 6.67 million vehicles anticipated on Chuseok day.

The maximum travel time for the outbound journey is expected to be 8 hours and 10 minutes from Seoul to Busan, and 6 hours and 50 minutes from Seoul to Mokpo on October 5. For the return trip, the maximum is forecast to be 9 hours and 50 minutes from Busan to Seoul, and 9 hours and 10 minutes from Mokpo to Seoul.

Prediction of Maximum Travel Time in Major Cities During This Year's Chuseok Holiday Period. Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport

The government will waive all expressway tolls for four days (October 4 to 7) around Chuseok. Nationwide, 775 additional restrooms will be added at service areas, and an emergency charging service for electric vehicles will be introduced. Four additional drowsy driving rest areas and one more service area will be operated, and some service areas will offer discount programs linked to local tourist attractions.

KTX and SRT will offer discounted tickets for reverse holiday travel, and travel packages to areas with declining populations will be discounted by up to 50%. The number of eligible regions has expanded from 23 last year to 42 this year. Seoul Station will pilot automated ticket machines for travelers with mobility challenges.

At Incheon International Airport, real-time departure hall waiting information will be made public via the Naver portal, and Gimpo Airport duty-free shops will introduce a 'biometric payment service' that allows payment using palm vein authentication for the first time. In the event of stranded passengers at airports, emergency supplies such as blankets and mattresses will be provided.

Expected Number of Travelers During This Year's Chuseok Holiday Period, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport

From today until October 1, the five domestic automakers will offer free vehicle inspections at 3,021 direct and partner service centers. Basic checks such as engine oil and tire wear will be provided, and emergency dispatch teams will also be on standby.

At the Seoul tollgate, artificial intelligence will automatically detect whether all passengers are wearing seatbelts and display violations on electronic boards. Korea Expressway Corporation will use AI to analyze expressway patrol footage to process public reports of lane violations and improperly loaded vehicles.

The average expected transportation cost for this year's Chuseok holiday is 278,000 won, up 8,000 won from last year. Despite the diversification of transportation options, the burden of holiday travel expenses remains significant.

To coincide with the Chuseok holiday, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport has designated October 2 to 12 as a 'special transportation countermeasure period' and will operate a joint special transportation task force with related agencies. Um Junghee, Director General for Transportation Logistics at the ministry, urged, "If you are driving a passenger car, please check traffic information before departure and frequently monitor the electronic road signs while traveling to ensure safe driving."

On September 13 last year, one day before the Chuseok holiday, Incheon International Airport Terminal 1 departure hall was crowded with people traveling abroad during the holiday period. Photo by Jo Yongjun

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