Rain, Mudslides Shut Gangwon Highways

Tourists to the beaches and mountains of Gangwon Province were tied to their summer resorts for the weekend as most highways, byways and railroads have been cut off due to heavy rain.

A third of the 468 kilometer-long Yeongdong Highway was cut off, confining almost 100 cars around Jinbu, Myeonon and Hoenggye interchanges for 20 hours. Continuing rain is hampering progress in recovery operations and more damage is being reported. It is projected that cars will not gain access to these areas until Monday.

The Korea Highway Corporation announced the highway between Seoul and Gangneung is impassible in both directions due to mudslides on the Jinbu Interchange. An official said, “The corporation is working to clear the road so that the road to Gangneung, which was cut off on Saturday, can be reopened by Sunday night, and the road to Seoul by Monday. However we are having a hard time because the rain does not stop and mud continues to flow in.”

As of 4:00 p.m. Sunday, 13 sections of seven national roads including those in Pyeongchang, Jeongseon, Hoengseong and Yeongwol are completely inaccessible, and 18 sections of ten national roads are partially inaccessible.

The railroad also bore the brunt of the torrential rain. Three sections of the country’s railway, including Taebaek, Gyeongui and parts of the Jeongseon Line reported inundation or missing roadbed areas, banning traffic or forcing trains to take other routes.

Most visitors who were planning to return to Seoul or the Metropolitan area over the weekend either went back to the direction of Gangneung, or wait around the highway areas for the roads to be cleared.

On some sections of national roads, drivers of lorries and buses had to spend almost 20 hours at night finding it hard to take other routes.

The only option for drivers to come back to the Metropolitan area is to take national road No. 7 and drive to Uljin via Gangneung, Donghae and Samcheok and then drive to Yeongju or Andong in North Gyeongsang Province to get on Jungang Highway. Railway travelers can take the Yeongdong Line in Gangneung or Samcheok and transfer to Jungang Line in Yeongju, and then arrive in Cheongnyangni.

An official at Korea Railroad Corporation said “It normally takes seven hours from Gangneung to Cheongnyangni, but taking the Jungang Line instead of the Taebaek Line adds 50 minutes,” and added, “Tickets for Monday are still available.”

Call service is available for more information on road conditions, at 1588-2505.

Kwang-Hyun Kim kkh@donga.com