"Highway Toll Exemption" … Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport to Implement Special Management for Return Journeys from September 23 for Five Days

*This content was translated by AI.

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport announced the "Special Traffic Measures for the 2026 Chuseok Holiday" on the 20th to support safe and convenient travel to hometowns during the 2026 Chuseok holiday. The special traffic measures period runs from September 23 to 27, spanning five days, with an estimated total of 30.93 million people traveling, averaging 11.82 million per day during this period.

On Chuseok itself, September 25, it is projected that 12.99 million people will travel throughout the day, causing maximum congestion. According to a survey by the Korea Transport Institute, 82.2% of respondents plan to return home or travel, with 32.7% planning trips (89.9% domestic travel, 10.1% international travel). For domestic travel, private cars accounted for an overwhelming 88.4%, followed by rail at 5.9%, buses at 4.3%, aviation at 0.8%, and shipping at 0.6%.

Daily average highway traffic volume is expected to increase by 11.8% year-on-year to 6.05 million vehicles, with traffic on Chuseok day reaching 6.84 million vehicles. The peak congestion time for return journeys is predicted to be the morning of September 24, while for return trips it will be the afternoon of Chuseok day, September 25. To alleviate citizens' transportation costs, the government will implement a nationwide highway toll exemption from September 24 to 27, covering four days before and after Chuseok.

Additionally, to enhance traffic flow, 299 sections of expressways and national roads have been designated as expected congestion zones for concentrated management, and shoulder lanes will be operated on 64 sections across 14 routes including the Gyeongbu and Yeongdong lines. Furthermore, from September 23 to 27, operating hours for bus-only lanes on the Gyeongbu Line between Yangjae and Sindanjin will be extended by four hours compared to normal times, running from 7 a.m. until 1 a.m. the following day. During this holiday period, estimated transportation costs are projected to average 214,000 won, approximately 30,000 won lower than last year.

Public transport capacity will also be significantly expanded, with increased total operating frequencies and available seats for buses, rail, aviation, and shipping compared to normal times. Concurrently, measures such as advance notification of rest area congestion information, emergency charging services for electric vehicles, and enhanced traffic safety using artificial intelligence (AI) and big data technologies will be implemented. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport plans to support safe and smooth travel for citizens through thorough pre-holiday safety inspections and real-time traffic information provision.

<© STARNEWS. All rights reserved. No reproduction or redistribution allowed.>

*This content was translated by AI.