SEOUL—Heavy traffic congested many of Korea's major expressways on the first day of the Chuseok holiday, with significant delays expected to persist into the evening. The nation's highways saw an influx of travelers heading to hometowns for the annual autumn harvest festival, contributing to extended travel times and widespread delays.

According to Korea Expressway Corp., the roads were particularly congested early Saturday. The estimated travel time to Seoul stretched to 7 hours and 10 minutes from Busan, 6 hours and 10 minutes from Daegu, and 3 hours and 40 minutes from Daejeon. The peak of road congestion was expected around 11 a.m., with an easing anticipated by 8 p.m. The agency noted that approximately 420,000 vehicles were set to travel from the greater Seoul area to other provinces, with another 430,000 vehicles making the journey in the opposite direction, marking a significant day of travel during the five-day Chuseok break, which runs from Saturday to Wednesday.

Chuseok, celebrated this year on Tuesday, is a time for Koreans to reunite with family, honor ancestors, and celebrate the harvest. The festival's traditions often lead to one of the busiest travel periods of the year.