(C) Busanpedia

SEOUL — As the Lunar New Year (Seollal) holiday officially kicks off, millions are preparing for the "Great Migration." Traffic on major expressways nationwide is expected to surge starting this afternoon as travelers head to their hometowns.

According to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, approximately 27.8 million people are expected to travel during this six-day special transportation period, which lasts through next Wednesday.

Peak Congestion Times
The exodus is projected to begin in earnest around 3:00 PM today. For those hitting the road this afternoon, travel times from Seoul are estimated as follows:

Seoul to Busan: Up to 6 hours
Seoul to Gwangju: 4 hours 40 minutes
Seoul to Daejeon: 3 hours 40 minutes

The Ministry predicts that outbound traffic will peak on Sunday (Feb. 15), while the return journey back to the capital is expected to be most congested on Tuesday (Feb. 17), the day of Seollal itself. On Tuesday, travelers could face grueling drives of up to 10 hours from Busan to Seoul and nearly 9 hours from Gwangju.

Toll Waivers and Public Support
To ease the burden on travelers, the government has announced that highway toll fees will be waived for four days, from Sunday to Wednesday. Additionally, to accommodate the heavy traffic flow, 11 temporary rest areas and additional drowsy driving shelters will be operational.

Record Overseas Travel
It isn't just domestic roads that are busy. A significant number of people are opting for international getaways, with an estimated 1.22 million passengers expected to pass through Incheon International Airport. In response, the Incheon International Airport Corporation has extended the operating hours of major departure halls and increased staff at various convenience facilities.

Authorities urge all travelers to prioritize safety and check real-time traffic updates via mobile apps or official websites before departing.