Expressways in South Korea

Expressways (Template:Korean) in South Korea, officially known as National Expressways (Template:Korean), 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<ref>Template:In lang 대통령령 제3202호 1급국도와2급국도의노선지정의건 (Presidential Decree No. 3202 Assignment of First-class National Highways and Second-class National Highways), 2 September 1967.</ref> as Second-class National Highway 95 Seoul–Incheon ({{#invoke:Lang|lang}}) by the presidential decree. The very first section of expressway was opened<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> 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.<ref>Template:In lang 대통령령 제5770호 고속국도노선지정령 (Presidential Decree No. 5770 Assignment of National Expressways), 31 August 1971.</ref>

Under the new numbering scheme implemented on 25 August 2001,<ref>Template:In lang 대통령령 제17228호 고속국도노선지정령 (Presidential Decree No. 17228 Assignment of National Expressways), 25 August 2001.</ref> expressway numbers were assigned based on a grid system, reflecting the layout proposed in the 3rd Comprehensive National Territorial Planning<ref>Template:Cite map</ref> (Template:Korean) 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
Template:Sort	Gyeongbu	lang}}	Geumjeong, Busan	Seocho, Seoul	416.1	Template:Convert
Template:Sort	Namhae	{{#invoke:Lang|lang}}	Haksan, Yeongam	Haeryong, Suncheon	106.8	Template:Convert
			Seo, Suncheon	Buk, Busan	166.3	Template:Convert
Template:Sort	Muan–Gwangju	lang}}	Mang-un, Muan	Gwangsan, Gwangju	41.3	Template:Convert
	Gwangju–Daegu	광주대구고속도로	Buk District, Gwangju	Okpo, Dalseong	176.0	Template:Convert	Partially concurrent with Honam Expwy
Template:Sort	Hamyang–Ulsan	lang}}	Jigok, Hamyang	Cheongnyang, Ulju	144.6	Template:Convert	Partially opened
Template:Sort	Seohaean	lang}}	Samhyang, Muan	Geumcheon, Seoul	336.1	Template:Convert
Template:Sort	Ulsan	lang}}	Eonyang, Ulju	Nam, Ulsan	14.3	Template:Convert
Template:Sort	Iksan–Pyeongtaek	lang}}	Wanggung, Iksan	Anjung, Pyeongtaek	131.7	Template:Convert	Partially opened Private operation
	Pyeongtaek–Paju	평택파주고속도로	Oseong, Pyeongtaek	Gunnae, Paju	117.7	Template:Convert	Partially opened Private operation
Template:Sort	Saemangeum–Pohang	{{#invoke:Lang|lang}}	Jinbong, Gimje	Sanggwan, Wanju	55.1	Template:Convert	Under construction
			Sanggwan, Wanju	Janggye, Jangsu	36.5	Template:Convert
			Dong, Daegu	Heunghae, Pohang	69.4	Template:Convert
Template:Sort	Honam	lang}}	Seo, Suncheon	Mokcheon, Cheonan	276.2	Template:Convert	Partially in private operation (previously separated as Nonsan–Cheonan Expwy)
Template:Sort	Suncheon–Wanju	lang}}	Haeryong, Suncheon	Yongjin, Wanju	117.8	Template:Convert
Template:Sort	Sejong–Pocheon	{{#invoke:Lang|lang}}	Guri	Sinbuk, Pocheon	44.6	Template:Convert	Private operation
			Geumgwang, Anseong	Guri	72.2	Template:Convert
			Janggun, Sejong	Geumgwang, Anseong	55.9	Template:Convert	Under construction
Template:Sort	Seosan–Yeongdeok	lang}}	Daesan, Seosan	Yeongdeok, Yeongdeok	330.8	Template:Convert	Partially opened Partially concurrent with Honam Branch and Gyeongbu Expwy
Template:Sort	Dangjin–Cheongju	lang}}	Songak, Dangjin	Ochang, Cheongju	71.8	Template:Convert	Partially opened Partially in private operation Partially concurrent with Gyeongbu Expwy
Template:Sort	Tongyeong–Daejeon	lang}}	Yongnam, Tongyeong	Dong, Daejeon	215.3	Template:Convert
	Jungbu	lang}}	Nami, Cheongju	Hanam	117.2	Template:Convert
Template:Sort	2nd Jungbu	lang}}	Majang, Icheon	Hanam	31.1	Template:Convert
Template:Sort	Pyeongtaek–Jecheon	lang}}	Cheongbuk, Pyeongtaek	Geumseong, Jecheon	127.4	Template:Convert
Template:Sort	Jungbu Naeryuk	lang}}	Naeseo, Changwon	Okcheon, Yangpyeong	301.7	Template:Convert
Template:Sort	Yeongdong	lang}}	Namdong, Incheon	Seongsan, Gangneung	234.4	Template:Convert
Template:Sort	Gwangju–Wonju	lang}}	Chowol, Gwangju	Wonju	57.0	Template:Convert	Private operation
Template:Sort	Jungang	lang}}	Sasang, Busan	Chuncheon	388.1	Template:Convert	Partially in private operation Partially concurrent with Gyeongbu Expwy
Template:Sort	Seoul–Yangyang	lang}}	Gangdong, Seoul	Seo, Yangyang	150.2	Template:Convert	Partially in private operation
Template:Sort	Donghae	{{#invoke:Lang|lang}}	Haeundae, Busan	Ganggu, Yeongdeok	131.8	Template:Convert	Partially opened Partially in private operation
			Geundeok, Samcheok	Sokcho	122.6	Template:Convert
Template:Sort	Capital Region 1st Ring	lang}}	Seongnam	Seongnam	128.0	Template:Convert	Partially in private operation
Template:Sort	Namhae Branch 1	lang}}	Sanin, Haman	Dong, Changwon	17.9	Template:Convert
Template:Sort	Namhae Branch 2	lang}}	Gimhae	Sasang, Busan	20.6	Template:Convert
Template:Sort	Namhae Branch 3	lang}}	Changwon	Jillye, Gimhae	15.3	Template:Convert	Private operation
Template:Sort	2nd Gyeongin	lang}}	Jung, Incheon	Seongnam	70.0	Template:Convert	Partially in private operation
Template:Sort	Gyeongin	lang}}	Seo, Incheon	Yangcheon, Seoul	13.4	Template:Convert
Template:Sort	Incheon Int'l Airport	lang}}	Jung, Incheon	Goyang	36.5	Template:Convert	Private operation
Template:Sort	Seocheon–Gongju	lang}}	Hwayang, Seocheon	Useong, Gongju	61.4	Template:Convert
Template:Sort	Pyeongtaek–Siheung	lang}}	Cheongbuk, Pyeongtaek	Siheung	42.6	Template:Convert	Private operation
Template:Sort	Osan–Hwaseong	lang}}	Osan	Hwaseong	2.6	Template:Convert	Private operation
	Yongin–Seoul	lang}}	Yongin	Seocho, Seoul	22.9	Template:Convert	Private operation
173	Iksan–Pyeongtaek Branch	lang}}	Hyeondeok, Pyeongtaek	Poseung, Pyeongtaek	5.7	Template:Convert	Private operation
Template:Sort	Saemangeum–Pohang Branch	lang}}	Gigye, Pohang	Heunghae, Pohang	24.0	Template:Convert	Planned
204	Saemangeum–Pohang Branch	lang}}	Wanggung, Iksan	Sanggwan, Wanju	24.5	Template:Convert
Template:Sort	Honam Branch	lang}}	Yeonmu, Nonsan	Daedeok, Daejeon	54.0	Template:Convert
Template:Sort	Gochang–Damyang	lang}}	Gosu, Gochang	Daedeok, Damyang	42.5	Template:Convert
255	Gangjin–Gwangju	lang}}	Jakcheon, Gangjin	Seo, Gwangju	51.1	Template:Convert	Under construction
292	Osong Branch	lang}}	Jeondong, Sejong	Osong, Cheongju	6.2	Template:Convert	Under construction
Template:Sort	Daejeon Southern Ring	lang}}	Yuseong, Daejeon	Dong, Daejeon	20.9	Template:Convert	Partially concurrent with Tongyeong–Daejeon Expwy
Template:Sort	Yeongcheon–Sangju	lang}}	Bugan, Yeongcheon	Nakdong, Sangju	93.9	Template:Convert	Private operation
Template:Sort	Capital Region 2nd Ring	{{#invoke:Lang|lang}}	Mado, Hwaseong	Docheok, Gwangju	63.0	Template:Convert	Private operation
			Docheok, Gwangju	Sanbuk, Yeoju	19.4	Template:Convert	Under construction
			Mado, Hwaseong	Ansan	13.5	Template:Convert	Fully concurrent with Pyeongtaek–Siheung Expwy
			Ansan	Siheung	2.4	Template:Convert
			Jung, Incheon	Yangchon, Gimpo	28.9	Template:Convert	Private operation
			Yangchon, Gimpo	Paju, Paju	25.4	Template:Convert	Under construction
			Paju, Paju	Yangju	24.8	Template:Convert	Partially opened
			Yangju	Soheul, Pocheon	6.0	Template:Convert	Private operation
			Soheul, Pocheon	Okcheon, Yangpyeong	46.3	Template:Convert
Template:Sort	Jungbu Naeryuk Branch	lang}}	Hyeonpung, Dalseong	Buk, Daegu	30.0	Template:Convert
Template:Sort	Gwangju Ring	lang}}	Gwangsan, Gwangju	Nam, Jangseong	9.7	Template:Convert
Template:Sort	Jungang Branch	lang}}	Gimhae	Yangsan	18.1	Template:Convert
Template:Sort	Busan Ring	lang}}	Jinyeong, Gimhae	Ilgwang, Gijang	48.8	Template:Convert
Template:Sort	Daegu Ring	lang}}	Dalseo, Daegu	Dong, Daegu	32.9	Template:Convert

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,<ref>Abandoned</ref> 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

{{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}}

File:Jungang Expwy Hoengseong ICTG Hipass Only(Exit) 1.jpg

Hipass-only lane in Hoengseong IC TG, Jungang Expressway

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

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

Traffic restrictions

File:Gyeongbu Expressway Bus Only Lane.JPG

Highway bus lane on Gyeongbu Expressway in the Republic of Korea

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.

File:Korean Sign - Vehicles Only and No Thoroughfare for Motorcycles 3.JPG

Motorway ahead and no motorcycles sign

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.<ref>Template:In lang Prohibit the driving on Expressways for Three-wheeled Vehicles and Motorcycles May 23, 1972, Dong-a Ilbo</ref><ref>Template:In lang Prohibit the driving on Expressways for Three-wheeled Vehicles etc May 24, 1972, Maeil Business Newspaper</ref>

Since March 15, 1992, all motorcycles except police motorcycles have been banned from certain other roads designated for motor vehicles only.<ref>Template:In lang Article 58 the South Korea Road Traffic Act(Revised for December 14, 1991, Enforced from to March 15, 1992)</ref><ref>Template:In lang Article 63 of the South Korea Road Traffic Act(Revised for May 31, 2005 and April 28, 2006, Enforced from to June 1st 2006)</ref><ref>Template:In lang Article 63 of the South Korea Road Traffic Act(Revised for June 8, 2011, Enforced from to December 9, 2011)</ref><ref>Law Available in English, requires manual click, South Korea Road Traffic Act</ref> 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

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External links

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