On the fourth day of the Seollal holiday, traffic congestion has plagued major highways from various cities to Seoul, creating extensive delays for travelers attempting to return home. According to Korea Expressway Corporation data released at noon, the expected travel time from Busan to Seoul has reached a staggering ten hours, with other cities like Ulsan, Daegu, Mokpo, Gwangju, and Daejeon also seeing increased travel times ranging from approximately four to ten hours. The delays are exacerbated by the high volume of vehicles, with estimates suggesting around 6.15 million cars are on the move nationwide, about a million more than the previous day.

The congested areas particularly along the Gyeongbu Expressway, a major route to Seoul, include multiple points with significant slowdowns such as between Yangsan junction and Yangsan, stretching 6 kilometers, and other sections accumulating long delays. In contrast, the route from Seoul to various cities is also suffering from heavy traffic, with return times averaging around 3 to 7 hours depending on the destination. The increase in traffic flow is largely attributed to the holiday rush, which is traditionally a busy time for travelers during the Seollal holiday.

Korea Expressway Corporation forecasts that the most severe traffic congestion will occur between 3 PM and 4 PM, with expectations to ease, potentially not until the following morning around 3 AM to 4 AM. These insights highlight the challenges faced by travelers during major holiday periods in South Korea, underscoring the logistical strains that holiday traffic places on infrastructure.