During this year's Chuseok holiday period, the number of vehicles using expressways increased by about 6% compared with last Chuseok.
According to data the Korea Expressway Corporation submitted on the 12th to the office of Rep. Lee Yeon-hee of the Land Infrastructure and Transport Committee from the Democratic Party of Korea, traffic on fiscal expressways from the 4th to the 7th of this month totaled 23.71 million vehicles. That is 6.1% higher than the traffic volume (22.35 million vehicles) during the period around last year's Chuseok holiday, Sept. 15–18.
This year's Chuseok holiday was linked with National Foundation Day, an alternative holiday, and Hangeul Day, extending it to a week, which is seen to have increased overall traffic.
By day, the most vehicles used the expressways on the 6th of this month, Chuseok day (6.41 million). On the 7th it was 5.91 million, on the 4th 5.72 million, and on the 5th 5.66 million. Traffic increased by about 5–15% compared with last Chuseok.
Compared with this year's Lunar New Year as well, expressway traffic was higher this Chuseok. During the four-day Lunar New Year holiday this year (Jan. 27–30), traffic totaled 18.73 million vehicles.
Expressway tolls waived from the 4th to the 7th of this month amounted to 67.1 billion won, up 5.2% from last year (63.8 billion won). Compared with this year's Lunar New Year (52.0 billion won), it was up 29%.
From the 3rd to the 9th of this month, the average sales at service areas downstream were 10.28 billion won. On Chuseok day, they recorded 14.04 billion won. This year's average daily sales at service areas increased 9.4% from last year's Chuseok holiday and 33.9% from this year's Lunar New Year holiday.