New Road to Cut Namyangju-Chuncheon Journey to 25 Minutes

A new road linking Namyangju and Chuncheon is expected to cut the journey between the two cities from 54 minutes to 25 minutes.

South Korea’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport said construction of the so-called Second Gyeongchun National Road began on the first. The 33.6-kilometer route will connect Hwado-eup in Namyangju with Seo-myeon in Chuncheon.

The 1.9404 trillion won project is scheduled for completion in 2032 and will be divided into five sections. The Seoul Regional Office of Land Management will oversee the first two sections, covering 15.8 kilometers, while the Wonju office will manage the remaining 17.8 kilometers.

The road will include 25 tunnels, 41 bridges and seven interchanges. Officials expect it to operate at roughly expressway standards, easing traffic and improving access between the northeastern Seoul metropolitan area and Gangwon Province.

The ministry is also pursuing a 10.5-kilometer, four-lane bypass connecting Seo-myeon and Sinbuk-eup in Chuncheon. If completed, vehicles using the new road could travel toward Hwacheon, Yanggu and Cheorwon without passing through central Chuncheon. Officials said the projects could support tourism, logistics and economic and cultural exchanges between the capital region and Gangwon.