Expressways in South Korea

Expressways in South Korea (Korean: 대한민국의 고속도로; Hanja: 大韓民國의 高速道路; RR: Daehanmingukui gosokdoro), officially called as National expressways (Korean: 고속국도; Hanja: 高速國道; RR: Gosokgukdo), 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.

Arterial routes are designated by two-digit numbers, with north-south routes having odd numbers, and east-west routes having even numbers. Primary routes (i.e. major thoroughfares) have 5 or 0 as their last digit, while secondary routes end in other digits.
Branch routes have three-digit route numbers, where the first two digits match the route number of an arterial route.
Belt lines have three-digit route numbers where the first digit matches the respective city's postal code.
Route numbers in the range 70–99 are not used in South Korea; they are reserved for designations in the event of Korean reunification.
The Gyeongbu Expressway kept its Route 1 designation, as it is South Korea's first and most important expressway.

List of expressways

Italics are planned line.

#		Type	Name	Section	Total Length(km)
1		Main	Gyeongbu Expressway	Hannam IC (Seoul) – Guseo IC (Busan)	416.1 km
10		East – West Trunk	Namhae Expressway	West Yeongam IC(Yeongam) - Haeryong IC(Suncheon)	106.8 km
10		East – West Trunk	Namhae Expressway	West Suncheon IC (Suncheon) – Deokcheon IC (Busan)	166.3 km
	102	East – West Branch (of 10)	Namhae Expressway Branch 1	Sanin JC (Haman) – Naeseo JC – Changwon JC (Changwon)	17.9 km
	104	East – West Branch (of 10)	Namhae Expressway Branch 2	Nangjeong JC (Gimhae) – Sasang IC (Busan)	20.6 km
	105	South – North Branch (of 10)	Namhae Expressway Branch 3	Jinhae – Gijang	15.3 km
12		East – West	Muan–Gwangju Expressway	Muan Airport IC (Muan) – Unsu IC (Gwangju)	41.3 km
12		East – West	Gwangju–Daegu Expressway	Munheung JC (Gwangju) – Okpo JC (Dalseong)	176.0 km
14		East - West	Hamyang–Ulsan Expressway	Hamyang – Ulsan	144.6 km
15		South – North Trunk	Seohaean Expressway	Mokpo IC (Muan) – Geumcheon IC (Seoul)	336.6 km
	151	South – North Branch (of 15)	Seocheon–Gongju Expressway	East Seocheon JC (Seocheon) – West Gongju JC (Gongju)	61.4 km
	153	South – North Branch (of 15)	Pyeongtaek–Siheung Expressway	Pyeongtaek – Siheung	40.3 km
16		East – West	Ulsan Expressway	Eonyang JC (Ulju) – Ulsan IC (Ulsan)	14.3 km
17		South – North	Pyeongtaek–Hwaseong Expressway	Oseong IC (Pyeongtaek) – Bongdam IC (Hwaseong)	26.7 km
17		South – North	Suwon–Munsan Expressway	Suwon – Paju	83.0 km
	171	South – North Branch (of 17)	Osan–Hwaseong Expressway	West Osan JC (Osan) – Annyeong IC (Hwaseong)	2.5 km
	171	South – North Branch (of 17)	Yongin–Seoul Expressway	Heungdeok IC (Yongin) – Heolleung IC (Seoul)	22.9 km
20		East – West Trunk	Iksan–Pohang Expressway	Iksan JC (Iksan) – Jangsu JC (Jangsu)	61.0 km
20		East – West Trunk	Iksan–Pohang Expressway	Palgongsan IC (Daegu) – Pohang IC (Pohang)	69.4 km
	202	East – West Branch (of 20)	Iksan–Pohang Expressway Branch	Pohang	24.0 km
25		South – North Trunk	Honam Expressway	West Suncheon IC (Suncheon) – Nonsan JC (Nonsan)	194.2 km
25		South – North Trunk	Nonsan–Cheonan Expressway	Nonsan JC (Nonsan) – Cheonan JC (Cheonan)	82.0 km
	251	South – North Branch (of 25)	Honam Expressway Branch	Nonsan JC (Nonsan) – Hoedeok JC (Daejeon)	54.0 km
	253	South – North Branch (of 25)	Gochang–Damyang Expressway	Gochang JC (Gochang) – Daedeok JC (Damyang)	42.5 km
	255	South – North Branch (of 25)	Gangjin–Gwangju Expressway	Gangjin – Gwangju	51.1 km
27		South – North	Suncheon–Wanju Expressway	East Sunchen IC (Suncheon) – Wanju JC (Wanju)	117.8 km
29		South – North	Sejong–Pocheon Expressway	Sejong – Guri	50.6 km
29		South – North	Sejong–Pocheon Expressway	Guri – Pocheon	71.1 km
30		East – West Trunk	Dangjin–Yeongdeok Expressway	Dangjin JC (Dangjin) – Nakdong JC (Sangju) - Yeongdeok	305.5 km
	301	South – North Branch (of 30)	Sangju–Yeongcheon Expressway	Sangju – Yeongcheon	93.9 km
32		East – West	Asan–Cheongju Expressway	Asan – Cheongju	48.8 km
35		South – North Trunk	Tongyeong–Daejeon Expressway	Tongyeong IC (Tongyeong) – Biryong JC (Daejeon)	215.3 km
35		South – North Trunk	Jungbu Expressway	Biryong JC (Daejeon) – Hanam JC (Hanam)	117.2 km
37		South – North	Second Jungbu Expressway	Express Line of 35 (Majang JC (Icheon) – Sangok JC (Hanam))	31.1 km
40		East – West Trunk	Pyeongtaek–Jecheon Expressway	West Pyeongtaek JC (Pyeongtaek) – Jecheon JC (Jecheon)	127.4 km
45		South – North Trunk	Jungbu Naeryuk Expressway	Naeseo JC (Changwon) – Yangpyeong IC (Yangpyeong)	301.7 km
	451	South – North Branch (of 45)	Jungbu Naeryuk Expressway Branch	Hyeonpung JC (Dalseong) – Geumho JC (Daegu)	30.0 km
50		East – West Trunk	Yeongdong Expressway	Seochang JC (Incheon) – Gangneung JC (Gangneung)	234.4 km
52		East – West	Gwangju–Wonju Expressway	Gwangju, Gyeonggi – Wonju	57.0 km
55		South – North Trunk	Jungang Expressway	Samnak JC (Busan) – Chuncheon IC (Chuncheon)	388.1 km
	551	South – North Branch (of 55)	Jungang Expressway Branch	Daedong JC (Gimhae) – Yangsan JC (Yangsan)	18.1 km
60		East – West Trunk	Seoul–Yangyang Expressway	Deokso-Sampae IC (Namyangju) – East Hongcheon IC (Hongcheon) - Yangyang	150.2 km
65		South – North Trunk	Donghae Expressway	Haeundae IC (Busan) – Pohang	100.9 km
65		South – North Trunk	Donghae Expressway	Samcheok – Donghae IC (Donghae) – Hajodae IC (Yangyang) – Sokcho	122.6 km
100		Belt	Seoul Ring Expressway	Pangyo JC (Seongnam) – Hanam JC (Hanam) – Uijeongbu IC (Uijeongbu) - Ilsan IC (Goyang) – Jangsu IC (Incheon) – Pangyo JC – (Loop)	128.0 km
110		Metropolitan Area	Second Gyeongin Expressway	Airport Town Square JC (Incheon) – Sammak IC (Anyang) – Seongnam	70.0 km
120		Metropolitan Area	Gyeongin Expressway	Incheon IC (Incheon) – Sinwol IC (Seoul)	23.9 km
130		Metropolitan Area	Incheon International Airport Expressway	Bungno JC (Goyang) – Airport Town Square JC (Incheon)	36.5 km
300		Belt	Daejeon Southern Ring Expressway	Seodaejeon JC (Daejeon) – Biryong JC (Daejeon)	20.9 km
400		Belt	Capital Region Second Ring Expressway	Bongdam IC (Hwaseong) – Dongtan JC (Hwaseong)	17.8 km
				Incheon – Gimpo	28.5 km
				Pocheon - Yangpyeong IC (Yangpyeong)	46.5 km
500		Belt	Gwangju Ring Expressway	Gwangju – Jangseong	10.3 km
600		Belt	Busan Ring Expressway	Gimhae – Busan - Yangsan - Busan	48.8 km
700		Belt	Daegu Ring Expressway	Daegu – Chilgok - Daegu	32.4 km

Numbering scheme until 2001

A numbering scheme of expressways in South Korea changed in 2001. Before 2001, roads are numbered as order of its approval (although not exactly same). This list below is the lines by the old scheme. Note that name, origin and terminus of some lines are changed with numbering scheme.

Route number		Route name		Origins (former)	Terminal (former)	Approval
Former	Current	English	Korean	Origins (former)	Terminal (former)	Approval
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^[1], 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

Access restrictions

Motorcycling restrictions

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.^[2]^[3]

Since March 15, 1992, all motorcycles except police motorcycles have been banned from certain other roads designated for motor vehicles only.^[4]^[5]^[6] These roads are marked by a circular blue sign with a white silhouette of a car.

References

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

External links

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

[1] Abandoned

[2] Template:Ko icon Prohibit the driving on Expressways for Three-wheeled Vehicles and Motorcycles May 23, 1972, Dong-a Ilbo

[3] Template:Ko icon Prohibit the driving on Expressways for Three-wheeled Vehicles etc May 24, 1972, Maeil Business Newspaper

[4] Template:Ko icon Article 58 the South Korea Road Traffic Law(Revised for December 14, 1991, Enforced from to March 15, 1992)

[5] Template:Ko icon Article 63 of the South Korea Road Traffic Law(Revised for May 31, 2005 and April 28, 2006, Enforced from to June 1st 2006)

[6] Template:Ko icon Article 63 of the South Korea Road Traffic Law(Revised for June 8, 2011, Enforced from to December 9, 2011)

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

v t e South Korean expressways
South–North	1 (Gyeongbu) 15 (Seohaean) 17 (Pyeongtaek–Paju) 25 Honam Nonsan–Cheonan 27 (Suncheon–Wanju) 29 (Sejong—Pocheon) 35 Tongyeong–Daejeon Jungbu 37 (2nd Jungbu) 45 (Jungbu Naeryuk) 55 (Jungang) 65 (Donghae)
West–East	10 (Namhae) 12 Muan–Gwangju Gwangju–Daegu 14 (Hamyang–Ulsan) [ko] 16 (Ulsan) 20 (Saemangeum–Pohang) 30 (Seosan–Yeongdeok) 32 (Asan–Cheongju) [ko] 40 (Pyeongtaek–Jecheon) 50 (Yeongdong) 52 (Gwangju–Wonju) 60 (Seoul–Yangyang)
Belt	100 (Capital Region 1st Ring) 300 (Daejeon Southern Ring) 400 (Capital Region 2nd Ring) [ko] 500 (Gwangju Ring) [ko] 600 (Busan Ring) [ko] 700 (Daegu Ring) [ko]
Metropolitan Area	110 (2nd Gyeongin) 120 (Gyeongin) 130 (Incheon Int'l Airport)
Branch	102 (Namhae Branch 1) 104 (Namhae Branch 2) 105 (Namhae Branch 3) 151 (Seocheon–Gongju) [ko] 153 (Pyeongtaek–Siheung) 171 Osan–Hwaseong Yongin–Seoul 204 (Saemangeum–Pohang Branch (Iksan-Wanju)) [ko] 251 (Honam Branch) 253 (Gochang–Damyang) [ko] 301 (Sangju–Yeongcheon) [ko] 451 (Jungbu Naeryuk Branch) 551 (Jungang Branch)
Planned	17 (Iksan–Pyeongtaek) [ko] 173 (Iksan–Pyeongtaek Branch) [ko] 202 (Saemangeum–Pohang Branch (Pohang)) [ko] 255 (Gangjin–Gwangju) [ko] 292 (Sejong–Pocheon Expressway Osong Branch) [ko]
Abolished	Namhae Branch 3 [ko] Guma Branch Gimcheon–Yeongcheon [ko]

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