Traffic congestion on Chuseok, September 25, presented a mixed picture across major highways as evening arrivals eased while return routes remained heavily backed up, according to the Korea Expressway Corporation. The national traffic volume for the day was projected at approximately 684만대가량 vehicles, with 470,000 vehicles moving from the metropolitan area to regional provinces and 460,000 heading in the opposite direction.
Highway Conditions and Travel Times as Evening Sets In
As of 7 p.m. on September 25, data from the Korea Expressway Corporation via the Seoul Tollgate showed that travel times from Seoul to major regional cities had decreased significantly. The estimated travel duration to Busan stood at 4 hours and 30 minutes, Ulsan at 4 hours and 10 minutes, and Mokpo at 3 hours and 40 minutes.
Additional expected travel times from Seoul included 3 hours and 30 minutes to Daegu, 3 hours and 20 minutes to Gwangju, 2 hours and 40 minutes to Gangneung, and 1 hour and 50 minutes to Daejeon. In contrast, return trips toward Seoul required considerably more time. Drivers traveling from regional cities back to the capital faced estimated journeys of 5 hours and 50 minutes from Busan, 5 hours and 30 minutes from Mokpo and 울산 (Ulsan), 5 hours and 10 minutes from Gwangju, 4 hours and 50 minutes from Daegu, 3 hours and 20 minutes from Daejeon, and 3 hours from Gangneung.
Did You Know? The Korea Expressway Corporation projected the total national traffic volume for Chuseok day at roughly 684만대가량 vehicles, balancing a substantial flow of 470,000 vehicles heading to the provinces against 460,000 vehicles returning to the capital area.
Specific Congestion Zones on Major Routes
For motorists heading in the opposite direction on the Gyeongbu Expressway toward Busan, traffic crawled through sections such as a 2.68-kilometer stretch near Singal Junction and a 4.39-kilometer segment near Giheung Dongtan IC. On the return path toward Seoul, vehicles moved at a snail’s pace across a 7.5-kilometer stretch around Oksan Junction and an 11-kilometer section near Hwalcheon and Gyeongju.
The Seohaean Expressway also experienced dense traffic heading toward Seoul. Bottlenecks were recorded along a 2-kilometer span near Buan, a 15-kilometer stretch between Dongunsan and Dongseocheon Junction, and a 3-kilometer area near Gwangcheon. Further congestion affected the route near Seogimje IC over 13.93 kilometers and a 17-kilometer stretch from Songak IC to Poseong JC.
Seoul City Roadways and Weather Impacts
Inside Seoul, arterial roads faced additional friction as persistent rain combined with heavy vehicle concentrations to slow transit. The Olympic-daero recorded ongoing slow-downs between the Dongbu Expressway junction and the southern end of Yeongdong Bridge, as well as from the southern end of Hannam Bridge to the southern end of Banpo Bridge. Traffic likewise crawled from the southern end of Yeongdong Bridge to the southern end of Seongsu Bridge.
On Gangbyeonbuk-ro, vehicles stalled between the northern end of Dongho Bridge and the northern end of Banpo Bridge. The Bukbu Expressway experienced slow-moving traffic from Mukdong IC to Wolleung IC, while the Inner Circular Road reported congestion between Hongje Ramp and Yeonhui Ramp.
Expected Timeline for Traffic Dissipation
The Korea Expressway Corporation projected that outbound holiday traffic congestion would fully dissipate between 7 p.m. and 8 p.m. on September 25. Meanwhile, heavy gridlock along inbound return routes was anticipated to clear out entirely by 2 a.m. to 3 a.m. the following morning.
Frequently Asked Questions
What were the estimated travel times from Seoul to regional cities as of 7 p.m.?
According to the Korea Expressway Corporation, travel times from the Seoul Tollgate reached 4 hours and 30 minutes to Busan, 4 hours and 10 minutes to Ulsan, 3 hours and 40 minutes to Mokpo, 3 hours and 30 minutes to Daegu, 3 hours and 20 minutes to Gwangju, 2 hours and 40 minutes to Gangneung, and 1 hour and 50 minutes to Daejeon.
How long did return trips to Seoul take during the evening peak?
Drivers returning to Seoul faced estimated durations of 5 hours and 50 minutes from Busan, 5 hours and 30 minutes from Mokpo and Ulsan, 5 hours and 10 minutes from Gwangju, 4 hours and 50 minutes from Daegu, 3 hours and 20 minutes from Daejeon, and 3 hours from Gangneung.
When did the transit authorities expect highway congestion to end?
The Korea Expressway Corporation expected outbound holiday congestion to clear out between 7 p.m. and 8 p.m., while inbound return traffic was projected to normalize between 2 a.m. and 3 a.m. the next day.
How did your travel schedule hold up against these reported highway congestion windows?