On the third day of the Chuseok holiday, heavy traffic is reported on major highways across the country as travelers return home. Congestion on the outbound journey is gradually easing.
According to the Korea Expressway Corporation, as of 9 AM, the estimated travel times from Seoul to major cities are as follows: Busan 5 hours 10 minutes, Ulsan 4 hours 50 minutes, Daegu 4 hours 10 minutes, Mokpo 3 hours 40 minutes, Gangneung 3 hours 40 minutes, Gwangju 3 hours 20 minutes, and Daejeon 1 hour 40 minutes.
For those returning to Seoul, the expected travel times are: Busan 7 hours, Ulsan 6 hours 40 minutes, Mokpo 6 hours 30 minutes, Daegu 6 hours, Gwangju 5 hours 20 minutes, Gangneung 3 hours 40 minutes, and Daejeon 2 hours 30 minutes.
Currently, traffic is slow on the Gyeongbu Expressway heading toward Seoul, particularly in a 6-kilometer stretch from the Okcheon Junction to the Cheongju Rest Area. Similarly, the Jungbu Inland Expressway toward Yangpyeong is experiencing delays in a 5-kilometer stretch from North Chungju to the Chungju Junction.
The expressway corporation predicts that congestion on the return trip will peak between 4 and 5 PM, easing around 2 to 3 AM the following day. The outbound journey is expected to reach its peak congestion around 4 to 5 PM, clearing by 7 to 8 PM.
Nationwide highway traffic is projected to reach approximately 5.9 million vehicles today, with 380,000 vehicles traveling from the metropolitan area to the provinces and 520,000 vehicles making the return trip.
Meanwhile, traffic flow on major roads in Seoul remains relatively smooth. According to the Seoul Traffic Information System, there are no significant delays reported on Olympic Boulevard, Gangbyeonbuk-ro, the Inner Circular Road, as well as Dongbu and Seobu Expressways, and Gangnam Circular Road.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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