On Seollal on the 17th in the morning, as people continue to head to and from their hometowns, slowdowns and congestion persist in many sections of the expressways.
According to the Korea Expressway Corporation (KEC) at 8 a.m. that day, the estimated travel times from the Seoul Tollgate to major cities nationwide are 5 hours to Busan, 4 hours 40 minutes to Ulsan, 4 hours to Daegu, 3 hours 40 minutes to Mokpo, 3 hours 20 minutes to Gwangju, 2 hours 40 minutes to Gangneung, and 2 hours 10 minutes to Daejeon.
Conversely, the estimated travel times from each city to Seoul are 6 hours 40 minutes from Busan, 6 hours 20 minutes from Ulsan, 5 hours 40 minutes from Daegu, 7 hours 20 minutes from Mokpo, 4 hours 50 minutes from Gwangju, and 2 hours from Daejeon.
On the Gyeongbu Expressway toward Busan, congestion is occurring over a 2 km section from the Cheonan Interchange to near Cheonan. Toward Seoul, vehicles are moving slowly over a 5 km section from near Giheung to the Singal Junction and over a 5 km section from near Yangjae to the Banpo Interchange.
On the Seohaean Expressway toward Mokpo, a 1 km section from near Gunsan to near the Dongseocheon Junction is congested, and toward Seoul, a 2 km section from the Geumcheon Interchange to near the Iljik Junction is congested.
On the Jungbu Naeryuk Expressway toward Changwon, congestion is occurring over a 10 km section from the Yeoju Junction to near Gamgok.
The Korea Expressway Corporation (KEC) estimated that 6.15 million vehicles will be on the move nationwide that day, more than 1 million higher than the previous day (5.05 million).
Homebound traffic is expected to begin backing up between 7 a.m. and 8 a.m., with the heaviest congestion between 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. It is expected to ease between 8 p.m. and 9 p.m.
Homecoming traffic toward Seoul is expected to be congested from 7 a.m. to 8 a.m., becoming severe between 3 p.m. and 4 p.m. If it runs late, it may not clear until between 3 a.m. and 4 a.m. the following day.