How bad was Chuseok traffic on South Korean expressways on Friday?

Heavy traffic clogged expressways nationwide as people traveled to hometowns for the Chuseok holiday. Seoul-bound and outbound travel times were several hours longer than normal, with Busan trips from Seoul estimated at eight hours and 40 minutes.

When was Chuseok traffic expected to peak and ease?

The Korea Expressway Corp. said congestion was expected to peak between 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. It expected the roads to ease between 7 p.m. and 8 p.m.

How many vehicles were expected to travel nationwide on Friday during Chuseok?

An estimated 6.84 million vehicles were expected to travel on roads nationwide. That included about 470,000 leaving the greater Seoul area and 460,000 heading toward the capital area from other regions.

Highway congestion builds on Chuseok as Koreans travel to hometowns

Listen

Summary

Heavy traffic clogged expressways across South Korea on Friday, the second day of the Chuseok holiday, as people traveled to hometowns for family reunions. Trips from Seoul to Busan were estimated to take eight hours and 40 minutes, and congestion was expected to peak between 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. before easing later in the evening. An estimated 6.84 million vehicles were expected on roads nationwide.

Key Facts

As of 9 a.m., travel times from Seoul were estimated at six hours and 40 minutes to Mokpo, eight hours and 20 minutes to Ulsan, seven hours and 40 minutes to Daegu, and six hours and 10 minutes to Gwangju.
Trips to Seoul were expected to take seven hours and 50 minutes from Busan, seven hours from Mokpo, seven hours and 30 minutes from Ulsan, and six hours and 50 minutes from Gwangju.
The Korea Expressway Corp. said congestion was expected to peak between 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. and ease between 7 p.m. and 8 p.m.
The Chuseok holiday runs from Thursday to Sunday and is marked by hometown visits, family reunions, ancestral rites and traditional holiday foods.
About 470,000 vehicles were expected to leave the greater Seoul area and 460,000 were expected to head toward the capital area from other regions.

By Yonhap

Published Sep 25, 2026 9:49 am KST

Heavy traffic on the outbound lanes of the Gyeongbu Expressway ahead of the Chuseok holiday, near Jamwon IC, Seoul on Wednesday. Yonhap

Heavy traffic clogged expressways across South Korea on Friday, the second day of the Chuseok holiday, as people headed to their hometowns for family reunions, with trips from Seoul to the southeastern city of Busan estimated to take eight hours and 40 minutes.

As of 9 a.m., travel times from Seoul were estimated at six hours and 40 minutes to Mokpo, eight hours and 20 minutes to Ulsan, seven hours and 40 minutes to Daegu, and six hours and 10 minutes to Gwangju, according to the Korea Expressway Corp.

This year's holiday for Chuseok, the Korean equivalent of Thanksgiving, runs from Thursday to Sunday. The holiday is marked by visits to hometowns, family reunions, ancestral rites and traditional holiday foods.

Trips to Seoul were expected to take seven hours and 50 minutes from Busan, seven hours from Mokpo, seven hours and 30 minutes from Ulsan, and six hours and 50 minutes from Gwangju.

The state-run company said congestion was expected to peak between 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. and ease between 7 p.m. and 8 p.m.

An estimated 6.84 million vehicles were expected to travel on roads nationwide Friday, including about 470,000 leaving the greater Seoul area and 460,000 heading toward the capital area from other regions.

Explore More