With some 6.13 million vehicles expected to hit the roads just days ahead of Chuseok, which falls on Friday, the expressway operator estimated that it will take at most seven hours and 30 minutes from Seoul to Busan, six hours and 50 minutes to Gwangju, seven hours and 20 minutes to Mokpo, and three hours and 20 minutes to Gangneung.
Due to the relatively shorter four-day holiday this year, travelers are expected to face the heaviest traffic around 6 to 7 p.m., while their return trip to Seoul later this week is also expected to be the worst.
Meanwhile, cloudy skies are expected during the holiday, making it difficult to see the biggest full moon of the year. The Korea Meteorological Administration forecast that it will be cloudy in most parts of the country on Friday and Saturday, with rain in some areas that could obscure the moon.
According to the Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute, this year's harvest moon will reach its fullest at 1:49 a.m. on Sunday, after Chuseok Day, the 15th day of the eighth month in the lunar calendar.
AJP Takeaways
- South Korea's major expressways are seeing growing traffic ahead of Chuseok on Sept. 25, 2026, with about 6.13 million vehicles expected to travel nationwide.
- The Korea Expressway Corp. expects travel times from Seoul to reach up to seven hours and 30 minutes to Busan, six hours and 50 minutes to Gwangju, seven hours and 20 minutes to Mokpo, and three hours and 20 minutes to Gangneung, with traffic expected to peak around 6-7 p.m.
- Cloudy skies and rain in some areas are expected to obscure the Chuseok harvest moon, which the Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute says will reach its fullest at 1:49 a.m. on Sept. 27, 2026.
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