On the 17th, the first day of the Constitution Day holiday, expressways nationwide are forecast to see the worst congestion of the holiday period.
According to the Korea Expressway Corporation (KEC), 5.75 million vehicles are expected to use expressways nationwide that day. About 430,000 vehicles are projected to head from the greater Seoul area to the provinces, and 410,000 from the provinces to the greater Seoul area. Traffic volumes are expected to be the highest that day during the holiday period (17–19).
Southbound congestion is expected to begin around 6–7 a.m., peak between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m., and ease around 6–7 p.m. Congestion will be particularly heavy on the Gyeongbu and Yeongdong lines. Toward Seoul, traffic is expected to increase from around 9–10 a.m., be heaviest between 11 a.m. and noon, and ease around 7–8 p.m.
As of 9 a.m. that day, based on tollgate departure, the estimated travel times from Seoul to major cities are: ▲ Busan 7 hours 50 minutes ▲ Ulsan 7 hours 30 minutes ▲ Gangneung 7 hours ▲ Yangyang 5 hours 50 minutes (departing Namyangju) ▲ Daejeon 3 hours 50 minutes ▲ Gwangju 5 hours 40 minutes ▲ Mokpo 6 hours 40 minutes (departing West Seoul) ▲ Daegu 6 hours 50 minutes.
From the provinces to Seoul, the estimated times are: ▲ Busan 5 hours 10 minutes ▲ Ulsan 4 hours 50 minutes ▲ Gangneung 2 hours 40 minutes ▲ Yangyang 1 hour 50 minutes (arriving Namyangju) ▲ Daejeon 1 hour 50 minutes ▲ Gwangju 3 hours 30 minutes ▲ Mokpo 3 hours 40 minutes (arriving West Seoul) ▲ Daegu 4 hours 10 minutes.