Chuseok Homecoming: "Half a Day on the Road"... 9 Hours 30 Minutes from Seoul to Gwangju, 10 Hours 45 Minutes to Mokpo

Most Congested on the Morning of September 24
Return Traffic to Peak in the Afternoon of September 25
Average Daily Traffic Expected to Reach 6.05 Million Vehicles, Up 11.8% from Last Year
Government Plans to Waive Expressway Tolls and Cut Fuel Prices by 100 Won per Liter at Expressway Gas Stations from September 24 to 27

As vehicles heading to their hometowns for the Chuseok holiday converge, congestion on the roads to and from Gwangju and South Jeolla Province is expected to be significantly worse than usual. On the first day of the holiday, September 24, travel time from Seoul to Gwangju is expected to take up to 9 hours and 30 minutes, and to Mokpo, up to 10 hours and 45 minutes.

According to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and the Korea Transport Institute on September 20, the total number of people traveling nationwide during the Chuseok holiday from September 23 to September 27 is estimated at 30.93 million. Although this represents a 3.5% decrease from last year, the shortened holiday period may lead to a more concentrated increase in vehicle traffic.

Vehicles are moving on the Gyeongbu Expressway near the Seoul Tollgate, viewed from a police helicopter ahead of last year's Chuseok holiday. Photo by Yonhap News

The average daily number of vehicles using expressways is expected to rise by 11.8% to 6.05 million, compared to 5.41 million last year.

The traffic heading toward the Honam region is expected to be heaviest on the morning of September 24. It is projected that the trip from Seoul to Gwangju will take 9 hours and 30 minutes, and from Seoul to Mokpo, 10 hours and 45 minutes. Return traffic is expected to peak on the afternoon of Chuseok day, September 25, with estimated travel times of about 7 hours and 20 minutes from Gwangju to Seoul, and about 7 hours and 40 minutes from Mokpo to Seoul.

On Chuseok day, the number of vehicles using expressways nationwide is projected to reach 6.84 million, a 6.7% increase compared to the same day last year.

To alleviate congestion, shoulder lanes will be opened on 64 sections of expressways across the country. The government is also planning to waive expressway tolls for four days, from September 24 to September 27, during the Chuseok holiday. The final decision on the toll exemption will be made at the Cabinet meeting on September 22.

During the holiday period, gasoline and diesel prices will be discounted by 100 won per liter at 226 expressway gas stations managed by Korea Expressway Corporation.

The government will operate a Special Transportation Countermeasures Headquarters for five days, from September 23 to September 27, to manage transportation during the holiday.

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