Business · Economy · 1 hr ago
Road congestion limits the benefits of easier trips to Gangwon
New tunnels and highways have cut the distance and travel time between Seoul and Gangwon’s east coast, including Sokcho and Yangyang.
But on weekends and during holiday periods, the drive can still take four to six hours because many people travel at the same time.
Easier access has encouraged more trips, so wider roads have not prevented heavy congestion.
During the recent three-day Hangul Day holiday, more than 80,000 people visited Seoraksan National Park.
Long journeys and local traffic can leave visitors with less time to explore and spend money in the region.
The story suggests using train stations and bus terminals as travel hubs, with shuttle buses, local transport and parking outside busy areas.
It also proposes spreading visitors across different attractions and travel times, but gives no timetable for these measures.
New roads and tunnels have shortened journeys from Seoul to Gangwon, but holiday and weekend congestion can still make the trip to Sokcho take four to six hours.
The article says easier access has brought more traffic, limiting the benefits of shorter travel times.
More than 80,000 people visited Seoraksan during the three-day Hangul Day holiday, according to figures available on the afternoon of October 11.
The article argues that adding roads alone will not solve bottlenecks and suggests better public transport, transfers and ways to spread out travel demand.
- Who
- Drivers and tourists travelling from Seoul to Gangwon, including Sokcho and Seoraksan.
- What
- Road congestion can erase much of the time saved by new tunnels and highways.
- When
- Weekends and holiday periods, including the Hangul Day holiday.
- Where
- On routes from Seoul to Gangwon, particularly the journey to Sokcho and areas around Seoraksan.
- Why
- Easier access has encouraged more trips, while heavy use of cars and limited local transport contribute to congestion.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Adding more asphalt and digging more tunnels, a supply-focused solution, cannot resolve bottlenecks.
Flexible planning that carries tourists by public transport and disperses them locally is urgently needed.
Travelling from Seoul to Sokcho involved a nearly 300-kilometre route over the old Misiryeong Pass.
The route shortened to around 150–180 kilometres, making trips of about two hours possible when leaving early on a weekend.
More than 80,000 people visited Seoraksan over three days.
The article reported the visitor total and said traffic in the region remained a concern.
- Seoul–Sokcho distance today
- Around 150–180 kilometres
- Seoul–Sokcho trip in peak congestion
- 4–6 hours
- Seoraksan holiday visitors
- More than 80,000 over three days
- Inje–Yangyang Tunnel
- 11 kilometres long
- Old Misiryeong Pass
- 826 metres above sea level
Sources
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