Public Management Company for Expressway Rest Areas to Be Established...Commissions Expected to Drop by More Than Half

Management Company to Sign Direct Contracts with Tenants
Eliminating Intermediary Fees: Commission Rate to Drop from 33% to 8–9% of Sales
Eight Rest Areas, Including Newly Established Locations, to Begin Temporary Operation by Year-End

A dedicated public management company specializing in the operation of expressway rest areas will be established. Currently, Korea Expressway Corporation signs operation rights lease contracts with rest area operators, who then sign individual tenancy contracts with each store. This structure has drawn continuous criticism for excessively high intermediary fees. The plan is to lower rental fees and improve various operational methods to enhance the level of service.

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport announced this plan for reforming the management of expressway rest areas on July 9, 2026. During a briefing, Deputy Minister Hong Jisun stated, "Rest areas have long been criticized for expensive food, limited choices, and unsatisfactory service," and added, "We will boldly fix these unreasonable structures to meet the public’s expectations."

The Gapyeong Rest Area on the Chuncheon direction in Gyeonggi is bustling with travelers' vehicles./Gapyeong=Photo by Jin-Hyung Kang aymsdream@

The main reason for high food prices at rest areas has been identified as the multi-layered structure of "Expressway Corporation - intermediary operator - tenant." According to the Ministry, the average commission rate reaches 33% of sales, and in some cases up to 51%, inevitably lowering the quality of food and other services. A structural problem was also recently revealed in which a Korea Expressway Corporation retirees' association (Doseonghoe) monopolized rest area operations through its subsidiaries for over 40 years, reaping profits.

The specialized public management company for rest area operations is scheduled to be established early next year. This public management company will sign direct contracts with tenants. For this year, Korea Expressway Corporation will temporarily take on the work of the public management company. The average rent rate will be reduced from 33% of sales to around 8–9%. Even including management costs, the new commission rate is expected to fall to less than half of the previous rate. Revenue earned from solar power generation on rest area sites will be used to improve services such as heating, cooling, and air quality.

The Ministry stated, "We will improve the selection criteria so that operators are chosen not for their ability to offer high rents, but for guaranteeing good food and service at affordable prices." The Ministry also announced that selections will be made through evaluations by an external review committee to ensure fairness in bidding, and that annual assessments will be conducted to maintain service quality.

Additionally, convenience stores will operate 24 hours a day, and ready-to-eat meals will be introduced inside these stores. Changes will also allow for promotional events, such as using telecom points or buy-one-get-one-free offers. Affordable coffee shops offering budget menus will be introduced, which are expected to have a significant impact on customer experience. The plan also includes attracting specialty restaurant brands and local signature eateries.

Provided by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport

Starting this December, the new system will be applied to eight rest areas—either newly established or with existing contracts expiring this year—so that visitors will be able to experience the changes. These include the newly opening Hapcheonho (both directions) and Wolchulsan rest areas, as well as Yeoju, Gunwi, Jangyu, and Daecheon (both directions) rest areas where contracts are ending this year.

Alongside these reforms, the Ministry will eradicate the existing interest cartel by disqualifying current or recently retired (within three years) employees of the Expressway Corporation, their spouses, and direct family members from bidding for tenancy at rest area stores. A database of former employees will also be established. The retirees’ association Doseonghoe and its subsidiaries will be prohibited from participating in the rest area business, and the articles of association will be revised so that the six rest areas they currently operate can be sold immediately by the end of September.

Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Kim Yoonduk said, "For decades, people have had to endure high prices and disappointing service at expressway rest areas due to entrenched structural problems. Starting with eight locations this year, we will boldly eliminate these unreasonable structures, fill the gaps with public benefits, and return rest areas to the people."

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