By Lee Kyung-min
Millions of travelers packed expressways nationwide Sunday, raising the traffic volume to its highest amid the “golden holiday” period between April 29 and May 7.
According to the Korea Expressway Corp. (KEC), some 4.13 million vehicles hit the country’s expressways nationwide including 380,000 and 420,000 leaving and coming into Seoul and the surrounding Gyeonggi Province, respectively.
Heavy traffic and bumper-to-bumper conditions will continue throughout the week, the KEC added.
On Saturday, the number of vehicles using the expressways nationwide increased to 4.87 million, up about 100,000 from a week earlier.
The traffic in many sections of the expressways connecting Seoul, Busan, Daejeon, Daegu, Gwangju, Gangneung and Mokpo has been heavy from early morning, with travel time expected to be considerably longer than usual.
The traffic volume, the KEC said, is expected to reach its peak between 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. and will decrease afterwards. The volume will return to normal at about 8 p.m. and 9 p.m.
Meanwhile, almost 175,000 people traveled from or to Incheon International Airport, Sunday alone, up 11 percent from a year earlier.
The Incheon International Airport Corp. said nearly 2 million people will travel via the airport during the holiday period.
About 90,000 people left the country on Saturday alone, with the largest number of about 95,000 outbound travelers, expected Wednesday and inbound travelers, May 7, at the gateway.
Many local workers will be off on Labor Day (Monday), Buddha’s Birthday (Wednesday) and Children’s Day (Friday).
For those who are able to take a day off, May 8, the vacation can be extended to May 9, a temporary holiday designated for the presidential election.
However, workers at small- to medium-sized companies said this week’s holidays are only for those working at large companies.
“Many people who are self-employed or workers at small firms are not at all guaranteed the same holidays. Many are asked to work additional shifts even,” an internet user with the ID “rosemary” said.
According to the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA), the pleasant sunny weather is expected to continue through next week, with morning lows remaining over 13 degrees Celsius in many parts of the country and midday highs reaching 28 degrees.