Return traffic peak at 4 PM... Busan to Seoul takes 6 hours 10 minutes

Peak at 4-5 PM
Resolved by 1-2 AM the next day

The day after Chuseok, on the 30th, a stream of returning travelers is expected to continue from the morning, with severe congestion anticipated on roads heading toward Seoul until around midnight.

According to the Korea Expressway Corporation, as of 9 a.m. that day, the estimated travel times by passenger car from regional toll gates to the Seoul toll gate are 6 hours 10 minutes from Busan, 5 hours 31 minutes from Ulsan, 5 hours 10 minutes from Mokpo, 5 hours from Gwangju, 4 hours 51 minutes from Daegu, 3 hours from Gangneung, and 2 hours 4 minutes from Daejeon.

Return trip scene
Photo by Yonhap News

On the Gyeongbu Expressway heading toward Busan, congestion continues over a 3 km stretch from Jamwon to Seocho, a 14 km stretch near Dongtan Junction to near Namsa, and a 9 km stretch from Manghyang Rest Area to Cheonan Junction. On the Seohaean Expressway heading toward Mokpo, vehicles are repeatedly stopping and starting over 9 km stretches near Bibong to Hwaseong Rest Area and near Seopyeongtaek to Seohae Bridge.

On the Jungbu Expressway heading toward Namyi, congestion is occurring over a 2 km stretch from Hobeop Junction to near Moga. On the Yeongdong Line heading toward Gangneung, traffic flow is slow over 7 km from near Icheon to Yeoju Junction, 6 km from Yongin to Yangji Tunnel, and 5 km from near Maseong Tunnel to Yongin.

The Expressway Corporation expects heavy congestion in the returning direction but anticipates it will not be as severe as the previous day.

In the outbound direction, congestion is expected to start between 6 and 7 a.m., peak between 11 a.m. and 12 p.m., and ease between 9 and 10 p.m. In the returning direction, congestion starting between 7 and 8 a.m. is expected to peak between 4 and 5 p.m. and clear between 1 and 2 a.m. the following day.

The expected traffic volume nationwide is estimated at 5.42 million vehicles. It is predicted that 400,000 vehicles will move from the metropolitan area to local regions, and 520,000 vehicles will move from local regions to the metropolitan area.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.