Highway congestion builds on Chuseok as Koreans travel to hometowns

Heavy traffic clogged expressways across South Korea on Friday, the second day of the Chuseok holiday, as people traveled to hometowns for family reunions. Trips from Seoul to Busan were estimated to take eight hours and 40 minutes, and congestion was expected to peak between 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. before easing later in the evening. An estimated 6.84 million vehicles were expected on roads nationwide.

As of 9 a.m., travel times from Seoul were estimated at six hours and 40 minutes to Mokpo, eight hours and 20 minutes to Ulsan, seven hours and 40 minutes to Daegu, and six hours and 10 minutes to Gwangju.

Trips to Seoul were expected to take seven hours and 50 minutes from Busan, seven hours from Mokpo, seven hours and 30 minutes from Ulsan, and six hours and 50 minutes from Gwangju.

The Korea Expressway Corp. said congestion was expected to peak between 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. and ease between 7 p.m. and 8 p.m.

The Chuseok holiday runs from Thursday to Sunday and is marked by hometown visits, family reunions, ancestral rites and traditional holiday foods.

About 470,000 vehicles were expected to leave the greater Seoul area and 460,000 were expected to head toward the capital area from other regions.

Published Sep 25, 2026 9:49 am KST

Heavy traffic on the outbound lanes of the Gyeongbu Expressway ahead of the Chuseok holiday, near Jamwon IC, Seoul on Wednesday. Yonhap

Heavy traffic clogged expressways across South Korea on Friday, the second day of the Chuseok holiday, as people headed to their hometowns for family reunions, with trips from Seoul to the southeastern city of Busan estimated to take eight hours and 40 minutes.

As of 9 a.m., travel times from Seoul were estimated at six hours and 40 minutes to Mokpo, eight hours and 20 minutes to Ulsan, seven hours and 40 minutes to Daegu, and six hours and 10 minutes to Gwangju, according to the Korea Expressway Corp.

This year's holiday for Chuseok, the Korean equivalent of Thanksgiving, runs from Thursday to Sunday. The holiday is marked by visits to hometowns, family reunions, ancestral rites and traditional holiday foods.

The state-run company said congestion was expected to peak between 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. and ease between 7 p.m. and 8 p.m.

An estimated 6.84 million vehicles were expected to travel on roads nationwide Friday, including about 470,000 leaving the greater Seoul area and 460,000 heading toward the capital area from other regions.

周五是韩国中秋节假期的第二天，由于人们返乡与家人团聚，韩国各地高速公路交通严重拥堵。从首尔到釜山的行程预计需要8小时40分钟，拥堵高峰预计出现在下午1点至2点之间，之后在傍晚逐渐缓解。预计全国道路上的车辆总数将达到684万辆。

截至上午 9 点，从首尔到木浦的预计旅行时间为 6 小时 40 分钟，到蔚山的预计旅行时间为 8 小时 20 分钟，到大邱的预计旅行时间为 7 小时 40 分钟，到光州的预计旅行时间为 6 小时 10 分钟。

从釜山到首尔预计需要 7 小时 50 分钟，从木浦到首尔需要 7 小时，从蔚山到首尔需要 7 小时 30 分钟，从光州到首尔需要 6 小时 50 分钟。

韩国高速公路公司表示，预计拥堵高峰期为下午1点至2点，晚7点至8点之间将有所缓解。

中秋节假期从周四持续到周日，人们会回乡探亲、与家人团聚、祭祀祖先，并享用传统的节日美食。

预计将有约 47 万辆汽车离开首尔大都会区，另有 46 万辆汽车预计将从其他地区驶往首都地区。

发布于2026年9月25日上午9:49（韩国标准时间）

周三，首尔蚕院IC附近京釜高速公路出城方向车道交通拥堵，正值中秋节假期前夕。（韩联社）

周五是中秋节假期的第二天，韩国各地高速公路交通严重拥堵，人们纷纷赶回家乡与家人团聚。据估计，从首尔到东南部城市釜山的行程需要 8 小时 40 分钟。

据韩国高速公路公司称，截至上午 9 点，从首尔到木浦的预计旅行时间为 6 小时 40 分钟，到蔚山的预计旅行时间为 8 小时 20 分钟，到大邱的预计旅行时间为 7 小时 40 分钟，到光州的预计旅行时间为 6 小时 10 分钟。

今年的中秋节（相当于韩国的感恩节）假期从周四持续到周日。节日期间，人们会回乡探亲、与家人团聚、祭拜祖先并享用传统的节日美食。

这家国营公司表示，预计拥堵高峰将在下午1点至2点之间出现，并在晚上7点至8点之间缓解。

预计周五全国道路上将有约 684 万辆汽车行驶，其中约 47 万辆将离开首尔都市圈，46 万辆将从其他地区前往首都圈。