According to a survey from the Korea Transport Institute, about 34.84 million people plan to visit their ancestral hometowns or travel overseas for the weeklong holiday, up 29 percent from last year.
The annual Lunar New Year exodus is forecast to peak on next Tuesday with some 6 million hitting the road to their hometowns, but their trip back to Seoul is expected to take a few hours less than in previous years with the most congested day expected to be Jan. 30.
Among the holidaymakers, about 12.3 percent are expected to go on vacation overseas, as the tradition of spending the country's biggest holidays with family members and relatives wanes. For these travelers, the most popular destinations are Japan, followed by other Southeast Asian countries such as Thailand and Viet Nam.
This year's holiday spans a full week off from work, as the government has designated next Monday as a temporary holiday to boost domestic consumption and promote tourism.
The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport is preparing various safety measures for the holiday including extended operating hours for subways, buses, and other public transportation. To alleviate traffic congestion, the ministry has decided to waive toll fees on highways while offering discounts at highway rest areas.
The ministry also advised travelers to drive safely amid the increased traffic and the risk of icy roads.
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