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2h ago

Chuseok Getaway Clogs South Korea's Highways as Millions Travel

An extended break created by Chuseok's placement between national holidays is fueling an unusually heavy exodus.

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Bumper-to-bumper traffic clogs one side of a highway to the port city of Busan in Seoul's Seocho Ward on Oct. 2, 2025, as the annual rush began of travelers heading to their hometowns and resort areas for the Chuseok holiday, the Korean autumn harvest celebration, which falls on Oct. 6 this year. (Yonhap)

Overview

  • As of 8 a.m., the Korea Expressway Corp. estimated driving times at 6½ hours from Seoul to Busan, four hours to Daegu and three hours 20 minutes to Daejeon.
  • The agency forecast 5.24 million vehicles nationwide Friday, including 440,000 leaving the Seoul metropolitan area and 430,000 heading toward it.
  • Outbound traffic from Seoul was projected to peak around noon and ease between 7 p.m. and 8 p.m., according to the highway authority.
  • Congestion hotspots included the southbound Gyeongbu Expressway, where traffic slowed near Jamwon Interchange in southern Seoul, according to media reports and photos.
  • Travel demand extended beyond roads, with Korail adding extra trains for the holiday period and Incheon International Airport expecting about 2.45 million passengers from Oct. 3 to Oct. 9.