Summer holiday special traffic plan, July 25 – August 10 — hard-shoulder lanes on 59 sections, 33,746 extra bus trips
Source material is a Korean government announcement (in Korean).
From the 25th of this month through the 10th of next month, a 17-day special traffic plan for the summer holiday season adds 33,746 bus trips and 151 rail services, and operates hard-shoulder lanes on 59 sections of 16 routes.
Key facts
| Plan period | July 25 – August 10, 2026 (17 days) |
|---|---|
| Travel forecast | 6.14 million people per day, 104.33 million in total (1.5% more than last year's daily average of 6.05 million) |
| Expressway traffic | 5.43 million vehicles per day expected (0.6% more than 5.4 million a year earlier) |
| Extra public transport | 33,746 extra bus trips (1.106 million more seats) and 151 extra rail services (97,000 more seats) |
| Roads | 65 km across 9 national highway sections newly opened; hard-shoulder lanes on 59 sections of 16 routes, totaling 371.62 km |
| Expected travel times | Seoul–Busan 6 hours, Seoul–Gangneung 4 hours 50 minutes, Seoul–Mokpo 4 hours 40 minutes |
| Rest area amenities | Free Wi-Fi at 331 locations, 669 additional toilet stalls, and mobility-aid items placed at 215 rest areas |
Last checked:
Korea's Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport announced on the 22nd that, jointly with related agencies, it will run a special traffic plan for the summer holiday season for 17 days, from the 25th of this month through the 10th of next month. The Korea Transport Institute and Korea Expressway Corporation project that 6.14 million people will travel per day this holiday season, for a total of 104.33 million — 1.5% more than last year's daily average of 6.05 million. The plan focuses on five areas: smooth traffic flow, greater convenience and services for holidaymakers, stronger traffic safety, expanded public transport capacity, and stronger responses to bad weather. Bus services will add 33,746 trips, expanding capacity by 1.106 million seats, and rail will add 151 services, expanding capacity by 97,000 seats. A total of 65 km across 9 sections of national highway will newly open, and hard-shoulder lanes totaling 371.62 km will be operated on 59 sections of 16 routes including the Gyeongbu, Yeongdong and Seohaean lines.
Background — why this change
According to a summer holiday travel survey by the Korea Transport Institute, 51.5% of respondents intend to take a summer holiday, of whom 86.3% plan to travel domestically and 13.7% abroad. The largest share of respondents said they would leave between July 25 and 31, and 83.8% said they would travel by passenger car. Asked about concerns when traveling during the summer holidays, respondents cited parking (28.1%), public transport (21.8%), and refueling and charging (18.5%), in that order.
Summaries below are factual notes based on government announcements and primary sources — not evaluations or opinions.
FAQ
How long does the special traffic plan run?
It runs for 17 days, from the 25th of this month through the 10th of next month.
How long are trips between major cities expected to take?
Maximum expected travel times between major cities when heading to holiday destinations are Seoul–Busan 6 hours, Seoul–Gangneung 4 hours 50 minutes, and Seoul–Mokpo 4 hours 40 minutes.
Is there support for people with reduced mobility?
Mobility-aid items such as wheelchairs are placed at 215 rest areas, and rail passengers can request the boarding and alighting assistance service by phone or mobile app.