This Lunar New Year holiday, nearly half of Koreans are expected to hit the road, either returning to their hometowns or embarking on exciting travel adventures.
Approximately 3 in 10 people have plans to travel domestically or internationally during the festive break, with 9 out of 10 opting for the classic road trip in their own vehicles.
To ensure smooth travels, the government is pulling out all the stops: opening up highway shoulders, boosting public transport options, and ramping up safety checks across all modes of transportation – from roads to rails, skies to seas.
The Department of Transportation announced on the 10th that they’ve designated a six-day special transportation period from the 13th to the 18th, aimed at supporting safe and hassle-free travel for everyone.
The Korea Transport Institute’s survey predicts a staggering 27.8 million people on the move during this time. While this figure shows a 13.3% dip from last year’s extended ten-day holiday, the daily average of travelers is set to surge by 9.3% to 8.34 million, thanks to the more compact holiday schedule.
The peak travel day is expected to be the 17th – Lunar New Year’s Day itself – with an estimated 9.52 million people in transit.
Interestingly, 31.4% of the population has travel plans for the holiday period. Of these adventurers, 89.4% are sticking to domestic destinations, while 10.6% are venturing abroad – a slight 1.7 percentage point decrease in international travel compared to last year’s holiday.
For those staying within the country, cars remain the go-to mode of transport, with 86.1% of travelers expected to hit the highways.
Speaking of highways, they’re bracing for a 14.1% uptick in daily traffic compared to last year, with an estimated 5.25 million vehicles clogging the roads.
Lunar New Year’s Day itself is predicted to see a whopping 6.15 million vehicles on the highways – that’s an 11% jump from last year’s 5.54 million.
If you’re planning a cross-country trek, brace yourself: the Seoul to Busan route could take up to 7 hours on the 15th, while the return journey on the 17th might stretch to a grueling 10 hours. Compared to last year, expect to tack on an extra 15 minutes for your outbound journey and a full hour for the return trip.
On the bright side, your wallet might feel a little heavier this year. The estimated transportation costs for the holiday period hover around 245,000 KRW (approximately 184 USD), which is actually 3,000 KRW (about 2.25 USD) less than last year’s expenses.
The Department of Transportation is pulling out all the stops to make your holiday travel as smooth as possible. They’re focusing on improving traffic flow, enhancing travel convenience, ensuring safety, boosting public transport options, and preparing for any weather-related curveballs.
They’ve pinpointed 242 sections (totaling 1,847 km) of expressways and national highways as potential traffic hotspots, implementing strategic detour guidance. Plus, they’re opening up 69 sections (294 km) of highway shoulders to ease congestion.
But wait, there’s more! They’re unveiling 21 brand-new road sections (202 km) and extending the hours of the bus-only lanes from Yangjae to Sintanjin on the Gyeongbu Line. From February 14 to 18, these lanes will be open from 7 a.m. until 1 a.m. the next day – that’s four extra hours of smooth sailing for buses.
Photo: Department of Transportation
Here’s a holiday treat: expressway tolls will be waived for four days (15th to 18th), and they’re adding 11 new rest areas and stops for those much-needed breaks. Plus, if you’re taking the KTX or SRT for your hometown visit or exploring less-traveled areas, you could snag discounts of 30% to 50%.
To handle the holiday rush, they’re ramping up services across the board. Expect an additional 147,540 trips and 1,057,000 seats across buses, trains, planes, and ferries. That’s a boost of 12.7% in trips and 9.7% in seating capacity.
Flying? They’ve got you covered. International departure lounges will open up to 30 minutes earlier, extra parking spaces will be available, and if you’re a family with multiple kids or have a disability, you’ll enjoy free parking for domestic flights.
Safety is paramount, with special inspections planned for all transportation modes. They’re even using AI to analyze highway patrol footage, cracking down on rule-breakers like buses in the wrong lanes or improperly loaded vehicles.
With winter weather in mind, they’re doubling down on road patrols and pre-emptive salting in areas prone to snow and ice.
Jeong Chae-kyo, the Transportation Policy Director, offers some sage advice: \”With this year’s shorter holiday, we’re expecting some serious traffic. Do yourself a favor and check the traffic info before you head out. And remember, long drives can be a real snooze-fest, so take plenty of breaks to avoid drowsy driving. Keep an eye on the weather and road conditions, drive carefully, and stick to those traffic rules. Let’s make this a safe and happy holiday for everyone!\”
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