Homecoming Travel to Be Busiest on the Morning of the 11th

The ways to come homes for new year holidays by lunar calendar are not likely to be so busy, since the holidays are followed by weekends, and the western coast expressway, central expressway, and the Daejeon to Jinju expressway have opened. But the way back to Seoul on the afternoon of the 13th, one day after the New Year’s Day, is predicted to be crowded.

According to the Ministry of Construction and Transportation (MCT) and the Korea Highway Corporation (KHC) on the 24th, 28.5 percent among 1608 drivers in Seoul and its vicinity responded to KHC`s inquiry that they will depart one day earlier on the 11th. 26.8 percent of homecomers said that they will depart between 8 – 11 am in the morning between the 8th and the 13th. Therefore, the day and time expected to be the most crowded according to the survey is between 8 and 11 am on the morning of the 11th.

The MCT predicts that the time required from Seoul to Daejeon by car is 4 hours, Seoul to Pusan 9 hours, and Seoul to Kwangju 8 hours during the busiest time from 5 a.m. to 11 a.m. on the 11th.

The way back to Seoul will be busiest on the afternoon of the 13th, requiring 5 hours and a half from Daejeon to Seoul, 9 hours and a half from Kwangju to Seoul, and 11 hours and a half from Pusan to Seoul.

The MCT anticipates that the time required for homecoming and returning will be reduced by one to two hours due to the newly open highways and extension of highways like the west coast expressway, and lengthy holidays.

The MCT estimates that 33.42 million persons will travel during the holidays, which has risen by 2.3 percent from last year, and 41 percent from normal times. Cars to use highways are estimated to be 15.27 million, increasing by 8.2 percent from last New Year`s holidays, and the cars to use the highways in the Metropolitan area is 2.72 million, increasing by 4.7 percent.

From noon on February 9th till midnight on the 13th during New year`s holidays will the bus-only lane be enforced for routes both to and from Seoul in the section between Seocho interchange and Sintanjin interchange.

On the way down from Seoul, 10 interchanges including Chamwon and Banpo will be blocked off, but P-turn entry through Banpo and Seocho ramp will be allowed, and Yangjae ramp will block the way out.

On the way toward Seoul from noon on the 12th till midnight on the 13th, every car is not allowed to enter through 9 ICs including Suwon, Pangyo and Giheung except passenger cars for over 9 persons that are boarded with over 6 persons and freight cars for exporting.

For the people who return to Seoul late at night, buses and subway trains that pass through railroad stations like Seoul station and Yeongdeungpo station and the bus terminal will extend their services until 2 a.m. on the 14th only.

Ja-Ryong Koo bonhong@donga.com