Expressways in South Korea

Expressways () in South Korea, officially known as National Expressways (), are controlled-access highways that form the highest level of the country's road network. Most sections are tolled and maintained by the Korea Expressway Corporation, though a few routes are built and managed by approved private companies.

History On 2 September 1967, the first expressway of South Korea, nowadays Gyeongin Expressway, was assigned 대통령령 제3202호 1급국도와2급국도의노선지정의건 (Presidential Decree No. 3202 Assignment of First-class National Highways and Second-class National Highways), 2 September 1967. as Second-class National Highway 95 Seoul–Incheon () by the presidential decree. The very first section of expressway was opened on 21 December 1968. At first, expressways were assigned as a part of national highways, but since 31 August 1971, they were assigned as the new separated class: National Expressways. 대통령령 제5770호 고속국도노선지정령 (Presidential Decree No. 5770 Assignment of National Expressways), 31 August 1971.

Under the new numbering scheme implemented on 25 August 2001, 대통령령 제17228호 고속국도노선지정령 (Presidential Decree No. 17228 Assignment of National Expressways), 25 August 2001. expressway numbers were assigned based on a grid system, reflecting the layout proposed in the 3rd Comprehensive National Territorial Planning () in 1992. This updated system was influenced by the numbering conventions of the Interstate Highway System in the United States. The details are: Trunk routes: These are numbered with two digits. North–south routes are assigned odd numbers, while east–west routes are given even numbers. Primary routes are numbered progressively from south to north or west to east, with the first digit increasing and the last digit ending in either 5 or 0. Branch routes: Branch routes off trunk routes have three-digit numbers, with the first two digits corresponding to the main trunk route number. Circular routes: Circular routes are numbered in increments of 100, based on the postal code system used from 1988 to 2015. Seoul: 1, Capital Region First Ring Expressway (Expressway 100) Daejeon/Chungcheong: 3, Daejeon Southern Ring Expressway (Expressway 300) Incheon/Gyeonggi: 4, Capital Region Second Ring Expressway (Expressway 400) Gwangju/Jeolla: 5, Gwangju Ring Expressway (Expressway 500) Busan/South Gyeongsang: Busan Ring Expressway (Expressway 600) Daegu/North Gyeongsang: Daegu Ring Expressway (Expressway 700) Route numbers ranging from 70 to 99 are reserved for potential use following Korean reunification and are currently unused. There are a few exceptions: The Gyeongbu Expressway is an exception to the numbering rules. Due to its critical importance in the network, it retains the route number 1. There are multiple east–west branches on Capital Region First Ring Expressway (Expressway 100), but they are not numbered as the rule of branch routes; instead, they are numbered 110, 120, and 130, respectively.

The current highway shield for expressways is inspired by U.S. highway signage, combining the shape of U.S. Highway shields with the red, white, and blue color scheme of U.S. Interstate shields which are the same colors used in the South Korean flag.

Most of the expressway network is managed by the Korea Expressway Corporation. Since 2000, however, some routes have been constructed and operated by private companies under government approval. These privately operated routes are managed for a limited time before transitioning to public control.

List of expressways Number Name Origin Terminus Length Note English Korean km mi Gyeongbu Geumjeong, Busan Seocho, Seoul 416.1 Namhae Haksan, Yeongam Haeryong, Suncheon 106.8 Seo, Suncheon Buk, Busan 166.3 Muan–Gwangju Mang-un, Muan Gwangsan, Gwangju 41.3 Gwangju–Daegu 광주대구고속도로 Buk District, Gwangju Okpo, Dalseong 176.0 Partially concurrent with Honam Expwy Hamyang–Ulsan Jigok, Hamyang Cheongnyang, Ulju 144.6 Partially opened Seohaean Samhyang, Muan Geumcheon, Seoul 336.1 Ulsan Eonyang, Ulju Nam, Ulsan 14.3 Iksan–Pyeongtaek Wanggung, Iksan Anjung, Pyeongtaek 131.7 Partially openedPrivate operation Pyeongtaek–Paju 평택파주고속도로 Oseong, Pyeongtaek Gunnae, Paju 117.7 Partially openedPrivate operation Saemangeum–Pohang Jinbong, Gimje Sanggwan, Wanju 55.1 Under construction Sanggwan, Wanju Janggye, Jangsu 36.5 Dong, Daegu Heunghae, Pohang 69.4 Honam Seo, Suncheon Mokcheon, Cheonan 276.2 Partially in private operation(previously separated as Nonsan–Cheonan Expwy) Suncheon–Wanju Haeryong, Suncheon Yongjin, Wanju 117.8 Sejong–Pocheon Guri Sinbuk, Pocheon 44.6 Private operation Geumgwang, Anseong Guri 72.2 Janggun, Sejong Geumgwang, Anseong 55.9 Under construction Seosan–Yeongdeok Daesan, Seosan Yeongdeok, Yeongdeok 330.8 Partially openedPartially concurrent with Honam Branch and Gyeongbu Expwy Dangjin–Cheongju Songak, Dangjin Ochang, Cheongju 71.8 Partially openedPartially in private operationPartially concurrent with Gyeongbu Expwy Tongyeong–Daejeon Yongnam, Tongyeong Dong, Daejeon 215.3 Jungbu Nami, Cheongju Hanam 117.2 2nd Jungbu Majang, Icheon Hanam 31.1 Pyeongtaek–Yeongwol Cheongbuk, Pyeongtaek Yeongwol 127.4 Jungbu Naeryuk Naeseo, Changwon Okcheon, Yangpyeong 301.7 Yeongdong Namdong, Incheon Seongsan, Gangneung 234.4 Gwangju–Wonju Chowol, Gwangju Wonju 57.0 Private operation Jungang Sasang, Busan Chuncheon 388.1 Partially in private operationPartially concurrent with Gyeongbu Expwy Seoul–Yangyang Gangdong, Seoul Seo, Yangyang 150.2 Partially in private operation Donghae Haeundae, Busan Ganggu, Yeongdeok 131.8 Partially openedPartially in private operation Geundeok, Samcheok Sokcho 122.6 Capital Region 1st Ring Seongnam Seongnam 128.0 Partially in private operation Namhae Branch 1 Sanin, Haman Dong, Changwon 17.9 Namhae Branch 2 Gimhae Sasang, Busan 20.6 Namhae Branch 3 Changwon Jillye, Gimhae 15.3 Private operation 2nd Gyeongin Yeongjong, Incheon Seongnam 70.0 Partially in private operation Gyeongin Seohae, Incheon Yangcheon, Seoul 13.4 Incheon Int'l Airport Yeongjong, Incheon Goyang 36.5 Private operation Gyeyang-Ganghwa Gyegang, Incheon Ganghwa, Incheon 29.9 Hamyang-Ulsan Branch Ulju, Ulsan Buk, Ulsan 15.1 Seocheon–Gongju Hwayang, Seocheon Useong, Gongju 61.4 Pyeongtaek–Siheung Cheongbuk, Pyeongtaek Siheung 42.6 Private operation Osan–Hwaseong Osan Hwaseong 2.6 Private operation Yongin–Seoul Yongin Seocho, Seoul 22.9 Private operation Iksan–Pyeongtaek Branch Hyeondeok, Pyeongtaek Poseung, Pyeongtaek 5.7 Private operation Saemangeum–Pohang Branch Gigye, Pohang Heunghae, Pohang 24.0 Planned Saemangeum–Pohang Branch Wanggung, Iksan Sanggwan, Wanju 24.5 Honam Branch Yeonmu, Nonsan Daedeok, Daejeon 54.0 Gochang–Damyang Gosu, Gochang Daedeok, Damyang 42.5 Gangjin–Gwangju Jakcheon, Gangjin Seo, Gwangju 51.1 Under construction Osong Branch Jeondong, Sejong Osong, Cheongju 6.2 Under construction Daejeon Southern Ring Yuseong, Daejeon Dong, Daejeon 20.9 Partially concurrent with Tongyeong–Daejeon Expwy Yeongcheon–Sangju Bugan, Yeongcheon Nakdong, Sangju 93.9 Private operation Seosan-Yeongdeok Branch Hagi, Daejeon Janggun, Sejong City 19.1 Capital Region 2nd Ring Mado, Hwaseong Docheok, Gwangju 63.0 Private operation Docheok, Gwangju Sanbuk, Yeoju 19.4 Under construction Mado, Hwaseong Ansan 13.5 Fully concurrent with Pyeongtaek–Siheung Expwy Ansan Siheung 2.4 Jung, Incheon Yangchon, Gimpo 28.9 Private operation Yangchon, Gimpo Paju, Paju 25.4 Under construction Paju, Paju Yangju 24.8 Partially opened Yangju Soheul, Pocheon 6.0 Private operation Soheul, Pocheon Okcheon, Yangpyeong 46.3 Jungbu Naeryuk Branch Hyeonpung, Dalseong Buk, Daegu 30.0 Gwangju Ring Gwangsan, Gwangju Nam, Jangseong 9.7 Jungang Branch Gimhae Yangsan 18.1 Busan Ring Jinyeong, Gimhae Ilgwang, Gijang 48.8 Daegu Ring Dalseo, Daegu Dong, Daegu 32.9

Numbering scheme until 2001 Route number Route name Origins(former) Terminal(former) Approval Former Current English Korean 1 1 Gyeongbu 경부선 Seoul Busan 8 April 1969 2 120 Gyeongin 경인선 Seoul Incheon 2 September 1967 3 25, 251 Honam 호남선 Daejeon Suncheon 21 April 1970 3-2 253 Gwangju Bypass 광주외곽선 Jangseong Damyang 27 August 1997 4 50 Yeongdong 영동선 Yongin Gangneung 31 August 1971 5 65 Donghae 동해선 Sokcho Donghae 23 August 1973 6 10, 102 Namhae 남해선 Busan Suncheon 8 December 1971 6-2 104 Namhae 2nd Branch 남해제2지선 Busan Gimhae 22 June 1978 6-3 10 Masan Bypass 마산외곽선 Changwon Haman 27 August 1997 7 45, 451 Guma 구마선 Daegu Masan 19 March 1976 8 16 Ulsan 울산선 Ulju Ulsan 22 June 1978 9 12 88 Olympic 88올림픽선 Dalseong Damyang 22 June 1978 10 35 Jungbu 중부선 Hanam Cheongwon 29 May 1985 10-2 37 2nd Jungbu 제2중부선 Hanam Icheon 27 August 1997 11 15, 50, 110 Seohaean 서해안선 Incheon Muan 25 July 1991 12 50 Singal–Ansan 신갈~안산선 Yongin Ansan 14 July 1988 13 300 Daejeon Southern Ring 대전남부순환선 Daejeon Daejeon 14 July 1988 14 55 Jungang 중앙선 Daegu Chuncheon 20 October 1989 15 110 2nd Gyeongin 제2경인선 Anyang Incheon 25 July 1991 16 15 Seoul–Ansan 서울~안산선 Seoul Ansan 29 April 1992 17 35 Daejeon–Tongyeong 대전~통영선 Daejeon Tongyeong 29 April 1992 18 45 Jungbu Naeryuk 중부내륙선 Yeoju Dalseong 29 April 1992 19 55 Busan–Daegu 부산~대구선 Busan Daegu 29 April 1992 19-2 551 Branch of Busan–Daegu 부산~대구선 지선 Gimhae Yangsan 29 April 1992 20 130 Incheon International Airport 인천국제공항선 Goyang Incheon 27 September 1993 21 25 Cheonan–Nonsan 천안~논산선 Cheonan Nonsan 1 July 1996 22 30 Daejeon–Dangjin 대전~당진선 Daejeon Dangjin 1 July 1996 23 30 Cheongju–Sangju 청주~상주선 Cheongwon Sangju 1 July 1996 24 40 Pyeongtaek–Eumseong 평택~음성선 Pyeongtaek Eumseong 27 August 1997 25 151 Gongju–Seocheon 공주~서천선 Gongju Seocheon 27 August 1997 26 20 Iksan–Jangsu 익산~장수선 Iksan Jangsu 27 August 1997 27 22,Abandoned 20 Gimcheon–Pohang 김천~포항선 Gimcheon Pohang 27 August 1997 27-2 20 Branch of Gimcheon–Pohang 김천~포항선 지선 Daegu Yeongcheon 27 August 1997 101 100 Seoul Ring 서울외곽순환선 Seongnam Seongnam 14 January 1988

Electronic toll collection

Hi-pass is an electronic toll collection system for the expressways in South Korea.

Some interchanges are designed only for cars with hi-pass.

Traffic restrictions

From Sintanjin interchange, Daejeon to Yangjae interchange, Seoul, a pair of central lanes are dedicated as a bus lane on holidays; technically, it is operated as HOV-6 with cars with 9+ passenger capacity. On weekdays, the restriction is narrowed to Anseong interchange, Anseong to Yangjae interchange.

Since June 1, 1972, all motorcycles except police motorcycles are prohibited from driving on expressways in South Korea, regardless of engine displacement. Before 1972, motorcycles with an engine displacement greater than 250 cc were permitted on expressways. Prohibit the driving on Expressways for Three-wheeled Vehicles and Motorcycles May 23, 1972, Dong-a Ilbo Prohibit the driving on Expressways for Three-wheeled Vehicles etc May 24, 1972, Maeil Business Newspaper

Since March 15, 1992, all motorcycles except police motorcycles have been banned from certain other roads designated for motor vehicles only. Article 58 the South Korea Road Traffic Act(Revised for December 14, 1991, Enforced from to March 15, 1992) Article 63 of the South Korea Road Traffic Act(Revised for May 31, 2005 and April 28, 2006, Enforced from to June 1st 2006) Article 63 of the South Korea Road Traffic Act(Revised for June 8, 2011, Enforced from to December 9, 2011)Law Available in English, requires manual click, South Korea Road Traffic Act These roads are marked by a circular blue sign with a white silhouette of a car.

See also Transport in South Korea Road transport in South Korea Rail transport in South Korea Rapid transit in South Korea Highway system in South Korea National highways of South Korea Local highways of South Korea Motorways in North Korea

References

External links MOLIT – South Korean Government Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport