Seoul to Busan Train: Congestion Relief, 5 Hours 10 Minutes Travel Time

On the 14th, the first day of the Lunar New Year holiday, congestion on highways heading to rural areas reached its peak for a time, but is gradually easing in the afternoon.

The Korea Expressway Corporation estimated the travel time from Seoul to each region based on the toll booth departure at 2 PM on this day as follows: ▶Busan 5 hours 10 minutes ▶Ulsan 4 hours 50 minutes ▶Gangneung 3 hours 10 minutes ▶Yangyang 2 hours 20 minutes (departing from Namyangju) ▶Daejeon 2 hours 20 minutes ▶Gwangju 4 hours ▶Mokpo 4 hours 20 minutes (departing from West Seoul) ▶ Daegu expected to take 4 hours and 10 minutes.

Congestion was most severe between 11 a.m. and 12 noon, and vehicle flow gradually improved thereafter. It is expected that most of the homecoming procession will be resolved between 6 and 7 p.m.

It is expected that the number of vehicles using highways nationwide on this day will reach 4.85 million. The number of vehicles moving from the metropolitan area to the provinces was estimated at 460,000, and the number of vehicles heading from the provinces to the metropolitan area was estimated at 370,000.

As of 1:35 p.m., on the Gyeongbu Line toward Busan, vehicles are being pushed back in the following sections: 2km from Namsanwi to Namsa, 6km from Manghyang Rest Area to Cheonan, 8km from Cheonan Junction to Independence Hall, 16km from Oksan Junction to Nami Junction, 3km from Namcheongju to Jugam Rest Area, and 8km from Hoedeok Junction to Daejeon Tunnel.

On the Yangyang direction of the Seoul Yangyang Line, congestion continues at 6km from the Hongcheon Rest Area to Hwachon 9 Tunnel and 4km from Naechon to Naechon. On the west coast line toward Mokpo, the 4km section between Seopyeongtaek and Seohae Bridge and the 1km section around the Dongseocheon Junction are also congested.

The Gangneung direction of the Yeongdong Line shows a frustrating flow at 2km between Seoyongin Junction and Yongin, 5km near Yongin-Yangji Tunnel, 3km around Hobeop Junction, and 6km near Wonju. The Nami direction of the Jungbu Line is also running slowly in the 2km section between Hobeop Junction and Moga and the 10km section near Ochang to Nami Junction.

At the same time, the estimated travel time from the provinces to Seoul is ▶ Busan 4 hours 50 minutes ▶ Ulsan 4 hours 30 minutes ▶ Gangneung 2 hours 40 minutes ▶ Yangyang 1 hour 50 minutes (arriving at Namyangju) ▶ Daejeon 1 hour 40 minutes ▶ Gwangju 3 hours 20 minutes ▶ Mokpo 3 hours 40 minutes (arriving at West Seoul) ▶Daegu was calculated to be 3 hours and 50 minutes.

Road construction officials predicted that traffic would disperse as the afternoon progressed and congestion in major sections would gradually decrease.