Seoul:Traffic congestion began building on major expressways across South Korea on Wednesday afternoon as residents started their annual journeys for the Chuseok holiday. The Chuseok holiday, similar to Thanksgiving, spans four days from Thursday to Sunday, prompting many Koreans to return to their hometowns for family gatherings and to honor their ancestors.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Korea Expressway Corp. reported that traffic is expected to be heavier than usual, with approximately 6.13 million vehicles anticipated on the roads throughout Wednesday. The corporation forecasted that 510,000 vehicles would leave the Seoul metropolitan area for other regions, while 450,000 vehicles would head towards Seoul.
The expected travel time for a 420-kilometer journey from Seoul to Busan is about seven hours and 30 minutes. A trip from Seoul to Gwangju is estimated to take six hours and 50 minutes, while traveling to Gangneung on the east coast is projected to take three hours and 20 minutes.
Heavy traffic is expected to persist on routes away from Seoul through Thursday. Additionally, congestion is anticipated at railroad stations and airports nationwide throughout the extended holiday period.