Traffic Congestion Eases in Afternoon on First Day of Holiday; Seoul-to-Busan Drive Takes 5 Hours

Traffic congestion on expressways has been gradually easing since the afternoon of Oct. 9, the first day of a three-day holiday that includes Hangul Day and extends through the weekend.

Gyeongbu Expressway. Yonhap News

As of 4 p.m. on Oct. 9, estimated travel times from the Seoul Tollgate to major cities across the country were five hours to Busan, 4 hours and 40 minutes to Ulsan, four hours to Daegu, 3 hours and 46 minutes to Mokpo, four hours to Gwangju, three hours to Gangneung, and 2 hours and 30 minutes to Daejeon, according to the Korea Expressway Corporation. Congestion on southbound routes appears to have eased considerably compared with the morning. Traffic is expected to clear from around 7 to 8 p.m.

By contrast, estimated travel times from each city to Seoul were 4 hours and 30 minutes from Busan, 4 hours and 10 minutes from Ulsan, 3 hours and 30 minutes from Daegu, 4 hours and 20 minutes from Mokpo, 3 hours and 50 minutes from Gwangju, and 2 hours and 30 minutes from Daejeon. The corporation said congestion on routes toward Seoul is expected to peak around 6 to 7 p.m. and ease after 9 to 10 p.m.

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