Busan to Seoul 7 Hours 40 Minutes... Traffic Jam on the Last Day of the Six-Day Holiday Return Trip
by Kim Eunha
Published 30 Jan.2025 09:29(KST)
Updated 30 Jan.2025 10:59(KST)
An Estimated 5.25 Million Vehicles on the Move Nationwide
Peak Congestion Expected Between 5 and 6 p.m.;
Easing by Early Morning on the 31st
Beware of Black Ice Due to Heavy Snowfall and Strong Winds
On the last day of the Lunar New Year holiday, the 30th, highways nationwide are congested from early morning as cars head home. Due to heavy snowfall during the holiday period and temperatures dropping below minus 10 degrees Celsius in the morning, there is a high risk of black ice on the roads, requiring extra caution such as maintaining safe distances.
On the last day of the six-day holiday, the 30th, about 400,000 vehicles are expected to move from the metropolitan area to the provinces, and 430,000 vehicles from the provinces to the metropolitan area, with a total of 5.25 million vehicles moving nationwide. Yonhap News
원본보기 아이콘According to the Korea Expressway Corporation, as of 9 a.m., the estimated travel times from major city toll gates nationwide to Seoul are 7 hours 40 minutes from Busan, 7 hours 10 minutes from Ulsan, 6 hours 40 minutes from Daegu, 5 hours 50 minutes from Mokpo, 5 hours from Gwangju, 2 hours 50 minutes from Gangneung, and 2 hours 30 minutes from Daejeon.
Traffic leaving the metropolitan area toward the provinces is also heavily congested. Expected travel times from Seoul are 7 hours 10 minutes to Busan, 6 hours 40 minutes to Ulsan, 6 hours 10 minutes to Daegu, 5 hours 40 minutes to Mokpo, 5 hours 20 minutes to Gangneung, 5 hours 10 minutes to Gwangju, 4 hours to Yangyang, and 3 hours to Daejeon.
A representative from the Expressway Corporation stated, "Both the highways heading toward hometowns and those returning are extremely congested." Congestion toward hometowns, which began around 7 to 8 a.m., is expected to peak between 12 and 1 p.m. and ease around 11 p.m. to midnight. Congestion on the return routes, which started around 8 to 9 a.m., is expected to peak between 5 and 6 p.m. and clear by 3 to 4 a.m. on the 31st.
On the Gyeongbu Expressway heading toward Seoul, caution is advised on snowy roads between Biryong Junction and Sintanjin (14 km) and between Gimcheon and Chupungnyeong (13 km). On the Seohaean Expressway, both directions between Hongseong and Seopyeongtaek (59.5 km) require attention to road surface moisture. On the Yeongdong Line, both directions between Daegwallyeong and Gangneung Junction (22 km) require caution due to strong winds.
On this day, approximately 400,000 vehicles are expected to move from the metropolitan area to the provinces, and 430,000 vehicles from the provinces to the metropolitan area, with a total of 5.25 million vehicles traveling nationwide.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.