South Korea announces Chuseok holiday traffic and transport measures

South Korea's Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport has announced special transportation measures for the upcoming Chuseok holiday period from September 23 to 27. Due to a shorter holiday duration compared to last year, the daily average number of travelers is expected to rise by 56%, reaching approximately 11.82 million people per day.

Traffic congestion is projected to peak on the morning of September 24 for those traveling to hometowns and on the afternoon of September 25 for those returning. Travel times are expected to increase significantly; for instance, the trip from Seoul to Busan may take 10 hours and 30 minutes. To mitigate congestion, the government will manage 299 high-traffic sections and operate shoulder lanes on 64 highway segments.

To ease the financial burden on travelers, highway tolls will be waived for four days, and fuel prices at highway service stations will be reduced by 100 won per liter. Additionally, public transportation capacity will be expanded, including an increase of approximately 400,000 express bus seats and a 10% average reduction in KTX train fares. Airports will also implement measures to manage crowds, such as opening international departure gates up to 30 minutes earlier.