[Edaily Reporter Kim Hyun-ah ] While travel to hometowns for this year’s Chuseok is expected to be spread out over three days from the 23rd to the 25th, traffic congestion on the return trip is projected to peak around noon on the 25th—Chuseok Day itself.

Tmap Mobility and the SKTelecom(017670) Newsroom released estimates on the 17th for travel times during the Chuseok holiday on major routes between Seoul and Gwangju, Busan, Daejeon, and Gangneung, based on Tmap’s historical holiday travel data.

Traffic congestion peaks vary by route for the trip home.

On the 23rd, the day before the holiday, the Seoul→Daejeon route is expected to be the most congested, taking 4 hours and 5 minutes based on a 3:00 PM departure.

On the 24th, congestion is expected to peak on the Seoul→Gwangju and Seoul→Gangneung routes. Based on a 11:00 a.m. departure, the Seoul→Gwangju trip is predicted to take 4 hours and 59 minutes, while the Seoul→Gangneung trip is expected to take 3 hours and 49 minutes.

On the 25th, Chuseok Day itself, the Seoul→Busan route is expected to be the most congested. Based on a 12:00 PM departure, the trip is projected to take 7 hours and 3 minutes.

To avoid traffic congestion on the return trip, it is relatively advantageous to depart between late on the 23rd and early on the 24th. Traffic on major routes is expected to return to normal levels after 7:00 p.m. on the 24th and after 5:00 p.m. on the 25th.

Traffic congestion on the return trip will be concentrated on the 25th. Congestion is expected to begin increasing at 8:00 a.m., peak around noon, and continue into the evening.

Based on a 12:00 p.m. departure on the 25th, the trip from Busan to Seoul is expected to take 8 hours, from Gwangju to Seoul 6 hours and 23 minutes, and from Daejeon to Seoul 4 hours and 20 minutes. The trip from Gangneung to Seoul is predicted to take 3 hours and 54 minutes based on a 1:00 p.m. departure.

In particular, the Busan→Seoul trip is expected to take about 2 hours and 30 minutes longer than usual, making it the longest return journey among the major routes this Chuseok.

Traffic is also expected to be heavy on the 25th for travelers heading from Seoul to regional areas. Based on a 12:00 PM departure, the trip from Seoul to Busan is projected to take 7 hours and 3 minutes, from Seoul to Gwangju 4 hours and 35 minutes, and from Seoul to Daejeon 3 hours and 30 minutes.

Starting on the 26th, travel times on major routes are expected to decrease by about 1 to 2 hours compared to the peak congestion periods on the 25th. On the 27th, the final day of the holiday, traffic flow is expected to return to near-normal levels, with the exception of certain sections of the Busan→Seoul route.

Tmap Mobility is also enhancing convenience features for long-distance drivers alongside real-time traffic information during the Chuseok holiday.

When a vehicle enters a rest area, a map of the rest area’s facilities automatically appears on the T-Map screen. Users can check the locations of gas stations, restrooms, and nursing rooms, as well as information on signature dishes and popular foods at each rest area. This service is currently available at 100 rest areas in Seoul, Gyeonggi, and Gangwon provinces, with plans to expand it in the future.

The service also provides the names of rest areas for drowsy drivers and the remaining distance to them. It displays the real-time availability of fast and slow electric vehicle chargers at each rest area, allowing drivers to plan their rest and charging stops. This information is accessible not only through the T Map app but also via Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.

In addition, the app plans to incorporate key holiday traffic information, including highway toll exemptions, newly opened roads, bus-only lane sections, and temporary permission to drive on the shoulder.