Hello, this is 속초어때 (Sokchoeottae). As of 6 PM on Thursday, September 24, the first day of the Chuseok holiday, we have put together Sokcho (속초) traffic conditions and the information you need for the trip home. Right now, on the roads into Sokcho, Misiryeong-ro (미시령로, toward Seoul) and Donghae-daero (동해대로, coast and downtown) are slow, and only Seoraksan-ro (설악산로, toward Seorak) is flowing smoothly. The temperature is 23 degrees with a few clouds, and the chance of rain is 60%.
Starting today, tolls on expressways nationwide are waived for four days. That much is widely known, but many people are confused about exactly when the exemption ends and when to leave to avoid the worst traffic. If you are spending the holiday in Sokcho and heading back to the Seoul (서울) metropolitan area, your departure date and time translate directly into cost and driving time, so check the details below before planning your schedule.
The toll exemption runs from 0:00 on September 24 to midnight on the 27th
According to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, this Chuseok expressway toll exemption runs for 4 days, from 0:00 on September 24 (Thu) to 24:00 on September 27 (Sun). It applies to all vehicles using expressways nationwide, including privately financed expressways, so the Donghae Expressway and the Seoul–Yangyang Expressway leading to Sokcho IC are both free.
The confusing part is the cutoff time. The rule is whether you used the expressway at all during the exemption period.
- If you enter on the night of the 27th and exit in the early morning of the 28th, you are exempt. You were already on the expressway before the exemption ended.
- If you enter after 0:00 on the 28th, you are not exempt. The time you entered is already outside the exemption period.
- If you entered on the night of the 23rd and exited on the 24th, you are also exempt. Those who left late last night and arrived in Sokcho early this morning were not charged either.
So if you plan to spend Sunday the 27th in Sokcho until the evening and head back late at night, all you need to do is get on at Sokcho IC or an interchange toward Yangyang (양양) before midnight. On the other hand, if you decide to "stay one more night and leave early on the 28th," you will pay the toll as usual. Those going back to work on Monday the 28th should pay particular attention to this cutoff.
With Hi-pass, just drive through; in regular lanes, be sure to take a toll ticket
There is nothing to apply for. Vehicles with Hi-pass can pass through as usual with the device turned on, and when you pass, an announcement will say "toll of 0 KRW processed normally." Turning the device off because no toll is charged can actually mess up the records, so it is better to leave it on.
Vehicles without Hi-pass must follow the usual procedure: take a toll ticket when entering and hand it in at the tollgate when exiting. People often skip the ticket because it is free, but this slows processing at the tollgate and makes the line behind them longer. If you are entering around midnight on the 27th, it matters even more, because the entry time printed on the ticket is the basis for deciding whether you are exempt.
226 expressway gas stations sell fuel 100 KRW cheaper per ℓ
During the same period (24th–27th), the 226 publicly financed expressway gas stations managed by Korea Expressway Corporation will sell fuel at 100 KRW per liter below their September 17 prices. Filling 50 liters makes a difference of 5,000 KRW.
However, whether it is cheaper to fill up in downtown Sokcho before leaving or at an expressway rest area depends on the station. Some rest area stations normally charge more than downtown ones, so even with 100 KRW off, downtown can be cheaper. We recommend comparing the two with a fuel price comparison app such as 오피넷 (Opinet) before you set off. Also keep in mind that lines at rest area gas stations can get long on the holiday return trip.
The worst day for the return trip is Saturday the 26th
The Gangwon (강원) Regional Headquarters of Korea Expressway Corporation is running special Chuseok traffic measures for five days, from the 23rd to the 27th. During this period, average daily traffic on expressways in the Gangwon region is forecast at 321,000 vehicles, up 7.0% from last year's Chuseok holiday (300,000 vehicles). The busiest day is expected to be the 25th, Chuseok Day itself, with 384,000 vehicles.
Here is how it breaks down by direction.
- Toward Gangwon (coming in): The 25th, Chuseok Day, is the most congested. According to the Gangwon Regional Headquarters, Seoul→Gangneung (강릉) is expected to take up to 7 hours, and Seoul→Yangyang up to 5 hours 20 minutes.
- Toward Seoul (going back): Saturday the 26th is the most congested. Yangyang→Seoul is expected to take up to 3 hours 50 minutes, and Gangneung→Seoul up to 5 hours.
If you are heading back from Sokcho to Seoul, you have three main options: if you must go on the 26th, leave early in the morning to get out before the traffic builds up; push your trip back to Sunday the 27th; or get on the expressway before midnight on the 27th. Leaving on the night of the 27th means much quieter roads while still falling within the toll exemption cutoff. However, drowsiness is the biggest danger on long late-night drives, so rest well during the day before leaving, and stop at a rest area or drowsy-driver rest stop at least once every two hours.
What changes on the expressway
Korea Expressway Corporation is operating a few things differently from usual to reduce congestion during the holiday.
- Shoulder lanes: Shoulder lanes for small vehicles only will be opened as conditions require on 5 sections of the Yeongdong Expressway and the Seoul–Yangyang Expressway, totaling 171.5 km. You may drive on them only in sections where the electronic signs show they are open, and vans and trucks are not allowed.
- Temporary restrooms: 33 additional temporary restroom stalls have been installed at 3 drowsy-driver rest stops on the Yeongdong Expressway. If the lines at rest area restrooms are long, using a drowsy-driver rest stop is another option.
- Detour information: Electronic road signs and temporary signboards will provide section-by-section conditions and detour information.
Korea Expressway Corporation urged drivers involved in a traffic accident to turn on their hazard lights, first move to a safe place beyond the shoulder, and then report it. Every holiday, there are repeated cases of people standing inside or behind their car and being hit by a following vehicle in a secondary accident. Before a long drive, also check your tire pressure and wipers. With a 60% chance of rain today, you may well encounter wet roads during the holiday.
In downtown Sokcho, check free parking lots first
Once you leave the expressway and enter downtown Sokcho, parking becomes the problem. Right now, six places including 설악해맞이공원 (Seorak Haemaji Park), 테디베어팜 (Teddy Bear Farm), 테라크랩팜 (Terra Crab Farm), and 발해역사관 (Balhae History Museum) are all 'very congested', and two access roads are slow.
As part of its comprehensive Chuseok holiday measures, Sokcho City has opened 4 parking lots at and around City Hall, with a total of 263 spaces. In addition, the Gangwon State Office of Education is opening the parking lots of 473 educational institutions and schools in the province free of charge from the 24th to the 27th. Opening hours and the number of spaces differ by school, so it is a good idea to check the open facilities in the Sokcho area in advance on the public resource sharing platform 공유누리 (Gongyu Nuri) or the Gangwon State Office of Education website. If you leave your car parked after the opening hours end, it may be difficult to get it out, so be sure to check the closing time.
Looking at the tourist spot congestion levels that 속초어때 shows every day, during holidays the parking lots near the coast tend to fill up first, while the Seorak side often has relatively more room. Even now, only Seoraksan-ro is flowing smoothly. If you plan to look around the beach areas, parking at a free lot a little farther away and walking will save you time in the end.
Sokcho Chuseok return trip checklist at a glance
- Toll exemption: 0:00 on September 24 to 24:00 on the 27th, including privately financed expressways
- Enter before midnight on the 27th → free even if you exit on the 28th / Enter after 0:00 on the 28th → toll charged
- Hi-pass: drive through with it on; regular lanes: take a toll ticket and hand it in
- 226 expressway gas stations 100 KRW off per ℓ (based on September 17 prices)
- Peak return congestion: the 26th (Sat), Yangyang→Seoul up to 3 hours 50 minutes
- Shoulder lanes (171.5 km): small vehicles only, in sections where electronic signs show they are open
- Downtown parking: 263 spaces around City Hall; check school parking lots on 공유누리
Today we looked at the rules for the Chuseok holiday expressway toll exemption and how to plan a less congested trip home from Sokcho. Did you find it useful? Drive safely during the holiday, and we hope you have a joyful Hangawi in Sokcho. We will be back next time with even more useful information.
