Traffic to hometowns eases, back to cities still heavy on Chuseok evening

Expressway traffic to hometowns eased on Friday evening, the second day of Chuseok, while traffic back to Seoul and other cities remained heavy. As of 7 p.m., travel times from Seoul were estimated at 4.5 hours to Busan and 4 hours 10 minutes to Ulsan. The Korea Expressway Corp. said congestion leaving the Seoul area was expected to clear between 7 p.m. and 8 p.m., and return traffic between 2 a.m. and 3 a.m. the next day.

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

Trips to Seoul were expected to take 5 hours and 50 minutes from Busan, 5.5 hours from Mokpo and Ulsan, and 5 hours and 10 minutes from Gwangju.

The Korea Expressway Corp. estimated that 6.84 million vehicles would travel on roads nationwide on Friday.

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

Updated Sep 25, 2026 8:33 pm KST

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

Expressway traffic headed to people's hometowns eased somewhat Friday evening, the second day of the Chuseok holiday, though traffic back to the cities remained heavy, the expressway operator said.

As of 7 p.m., travel times from Seoul were estimated at 4.5 hours to the southeastern city of Busan, four hours and 10 minutes to Ulsan, three hours and 40 minutes to Mokpo, 3.5 hours to Daegu, and three hours and 20 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.

Trips to Seoul were expected to take five hours and 50 minutes from Busan, 5.5 hours from both Mokpo and Ulsan, and five hours and 10 minutes from Gwangju.

The state-run company said traffic congestion on roads leaving the Seoul area was expected to clear between 7 p.m. and 8 p.m., and in the opposite direction, between 2 a.m. and 3 a.m. the following day.

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.

中秋节第二天，即周五晚间，前往家乡的高速公路交通状况有所缓解，但返回首尔和其他城市的交通仍然拥堵。截至晚上7点，从首尔到釜山的预计车程为4.5小时，到蔚山的预计车程为4小时10分钟。韩国高速公路公司表示，预计首尔地区的出城交通拥堵将在晚上7点至8点之间缓解，返程交通将在次日凌晨2点至3点之间缓解。

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。

从釜山到首尔预计需要 5 小时 50 分钟，从木浦和蔚山到首尔预计需要 5.5 小时，从光州到首尔预计需要 5 小时 10 分钟。

韩国高速公路公司估计，周五全国道路上的车辆通行量将达到684万辆。

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）

更新于2026年9月25日晚上8:33（韩国标准时间）

周三，在中秋节假期前夕，首尔市蚕院IC附近的京釜高速公路出城方向车道交通严重拥堵。韩联社

高速公路运营商表示，周五晚间，也就是中秋节假期的第二天，人们前往家乡的高速公路交通有所缓解，但返回城市的交通仍然拥堵。

据韩国高速公路公司称，截至晚上 7 点，从首尔到东南部城市釜山的预计旅行时间为 4.5 小时，到蔚山的预计旅行时间为 4 小时 10 分钟，到木浦的预计旅行时间为 3 小时 40 分钟，到大邱的预计旅行时间为 3.5 小时，到光州的预计旅行时间为 3 小时 20 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。

预计从釜山到首尔需要 5 小时 50 分钟，从木浦和蔚山到首尔需要 5.5 小时，从光州到首尔需要 5 小时 10 分钟。

这家国营公司表示，预计首尔地区外道路的交通拥堵将在晚上 7 点至 8 点之间缓解，而反方向的道路交通拥堵将在第二天凌晨 2 点至 3 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 万辆离开首尔都市圈，46 万辆从其他地区前往首都圈。