Traffic Eases for Travelers Heading Home, But Congestion Builds Toward Seoul

On the evening of Chuseok, traffic congestion for travelers heading home has eased somewhat, but vehicles heading toward Seoul are causing delays on major highways.

According to the Korea Expressway Corporation, as of 7 p.m., the estimated travel times from the Seoul tollgate to major cities are 4 hours and 30 minutes to Busan, 4 hours and 10 minutes to Ulsan, and 3 hours and 40 minutes to Mokpo.

Travel times from Seoul to Daegu are expected to be 3 hours and 30 minutes, 3 hours and 20 minutes to Gwangju, 2 hours and 40 minutes to Gangneung, and 1 hour and 50 minutes to Daejeon.

In contrast, the return trip remains congested. Estimated travel times from various cities to Seoul are 5 hours and 50 minutes from Busan, 5 hours and 30 minutes from both Mokpo and Ulsan, 5 hours and 10 minutes from Gwangju, and 4 hours and 50 minutes from Daegu. Travel from Daejeon to Seoul is projected to take 3 hours and 20 minutes, while it will take 3 hours from Gangneung.

Major highways are experiencing delays, particularly in the direction of Seoul. On the Gyeongbu Expressway, traffic is slow near the Singal Junction with a 2.68 km backup and a 4.39 km delay near the Giheung-Dongtan Interchange. In the direction of Seoul, congestion is reported near the Oksan Junction with a 7.5 km delay and an 11 km backup near Hwalcheon and Gyeongju.

The expressway corporation anticipates that congestion for travelers heading home will mostly clear between 7 and 8 p.m. However, delays for those returning to Seoul are expected to continue late into the night, easing around 2 to 3 a.m. on the 26th.

The corporation estimates that approximately 6.84 million vehicles will be on the roads nationwide today, with 470,000 traveling from the capital region to other areas and 460,000 making the return trip to the capital.