ID :
19581
Mon, 09/15/2008 - 15:46
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/19581
The shortlink copeid
Traffic jammed as millions head home
SEOUL, Sept. 15 (Yonhap) -- Millions of South Koreans were returning to Seoul from their hometowns as the Chuseok holiday neared its end on Monday, causing traffic jams across the peninsula, highway officials said.
Chuseok, the Korean fall harvest festival, is one of the largest holidays in the country and fell on Sunday this year. One study showed that about a third of the nation's 49 million people visit their hometowns for the holiday.
As of 4 p.m. Monday, an estimated 140,000 cars had returned to Seoul and adjacent areas, the Korea Expressway Corporation (KEC) said.
"About 240,000 more vehicles will be returning to the metropolitan area between now and midnight, (making up) the last portion of homeward travelers," a KEC official said.
According to the KEC, as many as 3.6 million vehicles used the highway each day during the Chuseok holiday period, an increase of 11 percent from last year.
"Despite the increased number of cars and the relatively short holiday this year, traffic congestion was not as bad as it could have been due to the increased use of car navigation devices and accurate online road condition services," the KEC said.
Chuseok, the Korean fall harvest festival, is one of the largest holidays in the country and fell on Sunday this year. One study showed that about a third of the nation's 49 million people visit their hometowns for the holiday.
As of 4 p.m. Monday, an estimated 140,000 cars had returned to Seoul and adjacent areas, the Korea Expressway Corporation (KEC) said.
"About 240,000 more vehicles will be returning to the metropolitan area between now and midnight, (making up) the last portion of homeward travelers," a KEC official said.
According to the KEC, as many as 3.6 million vehicles used the highway each day during the Chuseok holiday period, an increase of 11 percent from last year.
"Despite the increased number of cars and the relatively short holiday this year, traffic congestion was not as bad as it could have been due to the increased use of car navigation devices and accurate online road condition services," the KEC said.
