Holiday Weekend Traffic Snarls South Korean Expressways

South Korea braced for significant travel disruptions on July 17, the first day of the Liberation Day holiday weekend. The Korea Expressway Corporation projected 5.75 million vehicles would use the nation's highways, marking the busiest day of the three-day period.

Congestion was expected to be heaviest on routes heading out of the Seoul metropolitan area. Southbound traffic was forecast to experience its peak delays between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m., with significant jams anticipated particularly on the Gyeongbu and Yeongdong expressways. Northbound traffic was expected to build from the morning, peaking between 11 a.m. and noon before easing in the evening.

Travelers heading from Seoul to major destinations faced daunting journeys. The trip to Busan was estimated to take a staggering 7 hours and 50 minutes, while reaching Ulsan would take 7 hours and 30 minutes, and Gangneung 7 hours. Shorter, though still substantial, travel times were expected for destinations like Daejeon (3 hours 50 minutes) and Gwangju (5 hours 40 minutes).

Return journeys to Seoul were projected to be significantly faster. Travelers heading from Busan to the capital could expect a 5-hour and 10-minute drive, while the trip from Ulsan would take 4 hours and 50 minutes. The return from Gangneung was estimated at 2 hours and 40 minutes.