How bad was Chuseok traffic on major expressways in South Korea on Wednesday?

Traffic congestion had already begun building on major expressways across the country by Wednesday afternoon as Chuseok traffic increased. Korea Expressway Corp. said the roads would be heavier than usual throughout the day.

How many vehicles were expected on the roads during the Chuseok holiday rush?

Korea Expressway Corp. estimated 6.13 million vehicles would be on the roads on Wednesday. It also projected 510,000 vehicles leaving the Seoul metropolitan area and 450,000 heading in the opposite direction.

How long would it take to drive from Seoul to Busan, Gwangju and Gangneung during the Chuseok travel rush?

Korea Expressway Corp. said the 420-kilometer drive from Seoul to Busan would take about seven hours and 30 minutes. It estimated six hours and 50 minutes to Gwangju and three hours and 20 minutes to Gangneung.

Expressway congestion begins ahead of Chuseok holiday

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Summary

Expressway congestion began building across South Korea on Wednesday afternoon as Koreans traveled to their hometowns for the Chuseok holiday. Korea Expressway Corp. said 6.13 million vehicles were expected on the roads that day, with travel from Seoul to Busan, Gwangju and Gangneung projected to take much longer than usual. The four-day Chuseok holiday runs from Thursday to Sunday, and congestion is also expected at railroad stations and airports.

Key Facts

Korea Expressway Corp. expected 6.13 million vehicles to be on the roads on Wednesday.
The company estimated 510,000 vehicles would travel from the Seoul metropolitan area to other regions, while 450,000 would travel in the opposite direction.
A 420-kilometer drive from Seoul to Busan was expected to take about seven hours and 30 minutes.
Travel from Seoul to Gwangju was expected to take six hours and 50 minutes, while the trip to Gangneung was expected to take three hours and 20 minutes.
The nationwide exodus was also expected to cause congestion at railroad stations and airports during the extended holiday period.

By Yonhap

Published Sep 23, 2026 3:19 pm KST

Vehicles line the southbound Gyeongbu Expressway near Jamwon Interchange in Seoul, Wednesday, ahead of the Chuseok holiday. Yonhap

The annual exodus for Chuseok, the Korean equivalent of Thanksgiving, began Wednesday as Koreans headed to their hometowns for family reunions and took trips during the extended holiday.

This year's four-day Chuseok holiday runs from Thursday to Sunday. Traditionally, Koreans return to their hometowns during Chuseok to reunite with family members and pay respects at their ancestors' graves.

Traffic congestion already began building on major expressways across the country on Wednesday afternoon, as Chuseok traffic increased, according to Korea Expressway Corp.

The company said traffic would be heavier than usual Wednesday, with 6.13 million vehicles expected to be on the roads throughout the day.

The company estimated that 510,000 vehicles would travel from the Seoul metropolitan area to other regions, while 450,000 would travel in the opposite direction. It expects the 420-kilometer drive from Seoul to the southeastern city of Busan, for instance, to take about seven hours and 30 minutes.

An expressway trip from Seoul to the southwestern city of Gwangju would take six hours and 50 minutes, while a trip to the east coast city of Gangneung would take three hours and 20 minutes, the company said.

Expressway traffic heading away from Seoul is expected to remain heavy through Thursday, while the nationwide exodus is also expected to cause congestion at railroad stations and airports throughout the extended holiday period.

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