During the special traffic measures period, a daily average of 5.96 million people are expected to travel, mostly using passenger cars with a maximum of 5.63 million cars. Thirteen road sections will be opened, and congested areas will be managed intensively.
The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport designated a 18-day period from July 25 to August 11 as a “special traffic measures period” and announced that a joint effort by relevant agencies will be implemented for the summer vacation season around late July to early August.
According to a survey conducted by the Korea Transport Institute and the Korea Expressway Corporation, during the special period, a total of 173.4 million people (an average of 5.96 million per day) are expected to travel, with 81.7% using passenger cars as their choice of transportation.
It is anticipated that the daily average of vehicles using highways will increase by 5.1% compared to the previous year, reaching 5.37 million vehicles. The maximum traffic volume is expected to approach 6 million vehicles, with the East Coast region being a popular destination for domestic travel.
A survey on summer vacation travel plans conducted by the Korea Transport Institute revealed that 48.9% of respondents are planning vacations, with 76.6% opting for domestic trips and 23.4% considering overseas destinations. The most popular domestic travel destination is the East Coast region.
The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport has prepared five major tasks for the special traffic measures, including promoting smooth traffic communication, enhancing convenience and services for vacationers, expanding public transportation capacity, strengthening traffic safety, and preparing for traffic accidents and adverse weather conditions.
To ensure smooth communication, highways and national roads will be expanded and managed, and congested areas will be closely monitored. Various facilities and services will be provided at rest areas and sleep zones along highways for the convenience of travelers. Public transportation capacity will also be increased to accommodate the expected rise in passengers.
Safety measures will include pre-inspections of transportation facilities and vehicles, as well as implementing personalized traffic safety measures using advanced technologies such as AI and big data. Precautions are also in place for traffic accidents and adverse weather conditions.
The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport urges travelers to comply with traffic rules, check traffic information before departure, and stay informed about real-time traffic conditions during their journey, especially when driving passenger cars to avoid congested roads and times.