Starting next month, drivers who mistakenly exit a highway will not have to pay the base toll of 900 won if they re-enter the toll booth within 15 minutes. This policy applies to each vehicle up to three times a year and is targeted at vehicles using electronic payment methods such as Hi-Pass on highways operated by the Korea Expressway Corporation.
On September 29, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport announced that the 'Highway Wrong Exit Toll Reduction System' will be implemented in early October.
Previously, drivers who exited the highway incorrectly had to pay the base toll twice, even if they traveled a short distance. This led to several incidents where drivers attempted to change lanes abruptly or reverse, resulting in accidents involving large trucks and injuries.
To qualify for the reduction, drivers must exit through a closed toll booth managed by the Korea Expressway Corporation and re-enter the same toll booth within 15 minutes. The reduction can be applied up to three times a year per vehicle, and electronic payment methods like Hi-Pass must be used. Toll booths on privately operated highways are excluded from this policy.
The government estimates that the toll reduction will apply to approximately 7.5 million cases annually, amounting to about 6.8 billion won. This translates to an average of about 20,500 cases of wrong exits eligible for the reduction each day. The average reduction amount per case is roughly 907 won, similar to the base toll of 900 won.
The method of toll reduction varies depending on the route taken. If a driver exits incorrectly on a publicly funded highway, the base toll will be immediately deducted upon re-entry. However, if the driver is using a privately operated highway, it may take about two weeks to confirm the wrong exit, and the reduction will be automatically applied during the next use of the publicly funded highway. For those who wish to receive a direct refund, applications can be made through the highway toll website or app.
The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport also urged families with multiple children to take advantage of the highway toll discount program that has been in effect since July. Households with three or more minor children receive a 20% discount on tolls during weekends and holidays, while those with two children receive a 10% discount. This program will be temporarily available until August 2029.
Jung Cheon-woo, a road policy official at the Ministry, stated, “We expect that the inconvenience of having to pay the base toll multiple times due to wrong exits will be alleviated with the implementation of this system. We will also strengthen guidance to ensure that people are aware of existing programs like the multi-child household discount so they do not miss out on benefits.”
* This article has been translated by AI.
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