Expressways in South Korea

Expressway arteries throughout South Korea
Approaching Seoul from Incheon Airport
Highway bus lane on Gyeongbu Expressway in the Republic of Korea

Expressways in South Korea were originally numbered in order of construction. Since August 24, 2001, they have been numbered in a scheme somewhat similar to that of the Interstate Highway System in the United States; the icons of the South Korean Expressways are notably similar to those in the United States because they are shaped like U.S. Highway shields and colored like Interstate shields with red, white and blue, the colors of the flag of South Korea.

List of expressways

# Type Name Section
1 Main Gyeongbu Expressway Yangjae IC (Seoul) – Guseo IC (Busan)
10 East – West Trunk Namhae Expressway Yeongam - West Suncheon IC (Suncheon) – Deokcheon IC (Busan)
102 East – West Branch (of 10) Namhae 1st Branch Expressway Sanin JC (Haman) – Naeseo JC – Changwon JC (Changwon)
104 East – West Branch (of 10) Namhae 2nd Branch Expressway Nangjeong JC (Gimhae) – Sasang IC (Busan)
105 South – North Branch (of 10) Namhae 3rd Branch Expressway Jinhae – Gijang
12 East – West 88 Olympic Expressway Goseo JC (Damyang) – Okpo JC (Dalseong)
Muan-Gwangju Expressway Muan Airport IC (Muan) – Unsu IC (Gwangju)
14 East - West Hamyang-Ulsan Expressway Hamyang – Ulsan
15 South – North Trunk Seohaean Expressway Mokpo IC (Muan) – Geumcheon IC (Seoul)
151 South – North Branch (of 15) Seocheon-Gongju Expressway East Seocheon JC (Seocheon) – West Gongju JC (Gongju)
153 South – North Branch (of 15) Pyeongtaek-Siheung Expressway PyeongtaekSiheung
16 East – West Ulsan Expressway Eonyang JC (Ulju) – Ulsan IC (Ulsan)
17 South – North Pyeongtaek-Hwaseong Expressway Oseong IC (Pyeongtaek) – Bongdam IC (Hwaseong)
Suwon-Munsan Expressway SuwonPaju
171 South – North Branch (of 17) Osan-Hwaseong Expressway West Osan JC (Osan) – Annyeong IC (Hwaseong)
Yongin-Seoul Expressway Heungdeok IC (Yongin) – Heolleung IC (Seoul)
19 South – North Guri-Pocheon Expressway GuriPocheon
20 East – West Trunk Iksan-Pohang Expressway Iksan JC (Iksan) – Jangsu JC (Jangsu)
Under construction between Jangsu JC and Palgonsan IC
Palgongsan IC (Daegu) – Pohang IC (Pohang)
202 East – West Branch (of 20) Iksan-Pohang Branch Expressway Pohang
25 South – North Trunk Honam Expressway West Suncheon IC (Suncheon) – Nonsan JC (Nonsan)
Nonsan-Cheonan Expressway Nonsan JC (Nonsan) – Cheonan JC (Cheonan)
251 South – North Branch (of 25) Honam Branch Expressway Nonsan JC (Nonsan) – Hoedeok JC (Daejeon)
253 South – North Branch (of 25) Gochang-Damyang Expressway Gochang JC (Gochang) – Daedeok JC (Damyang)
27 South – North Suncheon-Wanju Expressway Suncheon – Wanju
30 East – West Trunk Dangjin-Yeongdeok Expressway Dangjin JC (Dangjin) – Nakdong JC (Sangju) - Yeongdeok
301 South – North Branch (of 30) Sangju-Yeongcheon Expressway Sangju – Yeongcheon
35 South – North Trunk Tongyeong-Daejeon Expressway Tongyeong IC (Tongyeong) – Biryong JC (Daejeon)
Jungbu Expressway Biryong JC (Daejeon) – Hanam JC (Hanam)
37 South – North 2nd Jungbu Expressway Express Line of 35 (Majang JC (Icheon) – Sangok JC (Hanam))
40 East – West Trunk Pyeongtaek–Jecheon Expressway West Pyeongtaek JC (Pyeongtaek) – Daeso JC (Eumseong) - Jecheon
45 South – North Trunk Jungbu Naeryuk Expressway Naeseo JC (Changwon) – Yeoju JC (Yeoju) - Namyangju
451 South – North Branch (of 45) Jungbu Naeryuk Branch Expressway Hyeonpung JC (Dalseong) – Geumho JC (Daegu)
50 East – West Trunk Yeongdong Expressway Seochang JC (Incheon) – Gangneung JC (Gangneung)
52 East – West Gwangju-Wonju Expressway Gwangju, GyeonggiWonju
55 South – North Trunk Jungang Expressway Samnak JC (Busan) – Daedong JC (Gimhae)
East Daegu JC (Daegu) – Chuncheon IC (Chuncheon)
Daegu-Busan Expressway Daedong JC (Gimhae) – East Daegu JC (Daegu)
551 South – North Branch (of 55) Jungang Branch Expressway Daedong JC (Gimhae) – Yangsan JC (Yangsan)
60 East – West Trunk Seoul-Yangyang Expressway Deokso-Sampae IC (Namyangju) – East Hongcheon IC (Hongcheon) - Yangyang
65 South – North Trunk Donghae Expressway Haeundae IC (Busan) – Ulsan JC (Ulsan)
Under construction between Ulsan JC and Donghae IC
Donghae IC (Donghae) – Hajodae IC (Yangyang)
100 Belt Seoul Ring Expressway Pangyo JC (Seongnam) – Hanam JC (Hanam) – Uijeongbu IC (Uijeongbu) -
Ilsan IC (Goyang) – Jangsu IC (Incheon) – Pangyo JC – (Loop)
110 Metropolitan Area 2nd Gyeongin Expressway Airport Town Square JC (Incheon) – Sammak IC (Anyang)
120 Metropolitan Area Gyeongin Expressway Dohwa IC (Incheon) – Bucheon IC (Bucheon)
130 Metropolitan Area Incheon International Airport Expressway Bungno JC (Goyang) – Airport Town Square JC (Incheon)
300 Belt Daejeon Southern Belt Expressway Seodaejeon JC (Daejeon) – Biryong JC (Daejeon)
400 Belt Capital Region 2nd Belt Expressway Bongdam IC (Hwaseong) – Dongtan JC (Hwaseong)

Access restrictions

Motorcycling restrictions

Overhead sign at a South Korean expressway entrance
Motor vehicles only sign and no motorcycles sign in South Korea at an expressway entrance

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.[1][2]

Since March 15, 1992, all motorcycles except police motorcycles have been banned from certain other roads designated for motor vehicles only.[3][4][5] These roads are marked by a circular blue sign with a white silhouette of a car.

South Korea is the only country in the OECD with a freeway ban on motorcycles.

See also

References

  1. (Korean) Prohibit the driving on Expressways for Three-wheeled Vehicles and Motorcycles May 23,1972, Dong-a Ilbo
  2. (Korean) Prohibit the driving on Expressways for Three-wheeled Vehicles etc May 24, 1972, Maeil Business Newspaper
  3. (Korean) Article 58 the South Korea Road Traffic Law(Revised for December 14, 1991, Enforced from to March 15, 1992)
  4. (Korean) Article 63 of the South Korea Road Traffic Law(Revised for May 31, 2005 and April 28, 2006, Enforced from to June 1st 2006)
  5. (Korean) Article 63 of the South Korea Road Traffic Law(Revised for June 8, 2011, Enforced from to December 9, 2011)

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to South Korean expressway.