Heavy highway traffic expected in South Korea as pleasant weather draws travelers

South Korea's highways are bracing for significant traffic congestion this weekend as favorable early summer weather encourages more people to travel.

The Korea Expressway Corporation forecasts that approximately 5.55 million vehicles will use the nation's highways on Saturday, followed by 4.9 million on Sunday. This represents an increase compared to the previous week, driven by the desire for outdoor excursions.

Travelers heading towards Seoul can expect congestion to begin around 10-11 AM, intensifying to peak levels between 4 PM and 5 PM. The heavy traffic is anticipated to ease by 9-10 PM. The Yeongdong and Seoul-Yangyang expressways are projected to experience the most severe delays.

Traffic flowing out of the Seoul metropolitan area is estimated at 400,000 vehicles, with 450,000 vehicles expected to enter the capital region. While routes heading away from the capital are expected to be relatively smooth, the return journey may prove challenging for many.