Drivers planning to fill up before the Chuseok holiday might want to hold off until departure. During the holiday period, gasoline and diesel prices at highway gas stations across South Korea will be temporarily reduced by 100 won per liter, and public EV charging fees will drop to roughly half their usual rates. With highway tolls also waived for four days, the burden of holiday travel is expected to ease considerably.
Korea Expressway Corporation announced that from September 24 to 27, during the Chuseok holiday, it will lower gasoline and diesel prices by 100 won per liter at 226 highway gas stations it manages nationwide, compared with prices on the 17th of this month. The fuel tax cut, which was scheduled to expire at the end of this month, has been extended for two more months through the end of November, maintaining current reduction rates (15% for gasoline, 25% for diesel and LPG butane). Accordingly, per-liter fuel taxes will be 698 won for gasoline, 436 won for diesel, and 152 won for LPG butane. If you plan to refuel on your trip home, it’s more advantageous to use a gas station after entering the highway rather than one near your home.
EV drivers should take advantage of daytime hours during the holiday. Charging fee discounts will apply daily from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. from September 24 to 27. For 102,000 self-consumption chargers that receive power directly from Korea Electric Power Corporation, electricity usage charges will be waived. Self-consumption charging fees consist of a base charge (2,390 won per kW for low voltage, 2,580 won per kW for high voltage) and an electricity usage charge (around 85.4 won per kWh for low voltage, 80.2 won per kWh for high voltage), and the usage charge portion will not be collected.
Approximately 18,000 public chargers operated by the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment and Korea Electric Power Corporation will charge only 50% of their usual rates. For a 100kW fast charger, the rate drops from 348.4 won per kWh to 174.2 won per kWh. Chargers operated by private charging companies will also see lower fees as electricity usage charges are discounted, but the discount amount and method vary by company, so drivers should check each operator’s announcements.
Nineteen mobile chargers will be additionally deployed at eight highway rest areas where charging demand is expected to concentrate during the holiday. The designated rest areas include Hanam Dream (Gyeonggi), Hongcheon (Seoul-Yangyang), Chuncheon, Gujeong, Songnisan, and Buyeo Baekje (Seocheon-Gongju). Mobile chargers will prioritize vehicles with battery levels below 50% to prevent long-term occupancy and assist with emergency mobility, providing approximately 20kWh per vehicle.
This daytime discount is designed to absorb surplus electricity into EV charging and reduce strain on the power grid, as industrial power usage declines during the Chuseok holiday while renewable energy generation such as solar power continues during daytime hours.
From midnight on September 24 to midnight on September 27, during the Chuseok holiday, tolls will be waived on all highways nationwide, including privately operated expressways. All vehicles that use highways at any point during the holiday period are eligible. For example, vehicles that enter the highway on the 23rd and exit on the 24th, or enter on the 27th and exit on the 28th, will also receive the toll exemption benefit.
Hi-pass lane users can confirm “toll: 0 won” processing by passing through the tollgate with their device powered on. Regular lane users should take a ticket at the entry tollgate and submit it at the exit tollgate to receive the exemption.
Special traffic management measures will also be implemented to prepare for concentrated demand at rest areas and gas stations during the Chuseok period. Additional on-site personnel, including safety guides and traffic controllers, will be deployed at major rest areas and gas stations. Standing signs providing congestion information will be installed at entrance ramps, and traffic flow for rest areas and gas stations will be separated to minimize congestion.
Long-Distance EV Travel Strategy
The biggest burden for EV drivers embarking on long-distance trips home is the prospect of long waits to charge at highway rest areas. During holidays, when long-distance travelers converge at once, it’s common for multiple vehicles to queue at a single charger. Even with fast charging, adding wait time can easily waste one to two hours.
Experts advise that while a full charge before departure is essential, identifying alternative charging locations off the highway in advance can help avoid charging queues. Near major interchanges (ICs) along routes home, large-scale fast charging stations are well-equipped at local government offices, big-box retailers, and shopping complexes. Exiting at the IC just before a congested section and using a fast charger 5 to 10 minutes away can significantly reduce charging time.
Real-time information is also crucial. Using Korea Expressway Corporation’s “Highway Traffic Information” app or the zero-emission vehicle integrated portal allows drivers to check in real time whether nearby rest area chargers are available or out of order. Public charger rate schedules by output level and nationwide charger location information are also available on the zero-emission vehicle integrated portal.
Meanwhile, drivers should also be cautious about over-relying on driver assistance features such as smart cruise control while driving. While features that automatically maintain distance from the vehicle ahead and keep the car in its lane reduce fatigue during long-distance driving, system limitations in unexpected situations on holiday highways can lead to serious accidents due to inattention. According to the Korea Insurance Development Institute and the General Insurance Association of Korea, personal injury accidents on the day before the Chuseok holiday have increased by 45.3% compared with normal days over the past five years. Experts urge drivers to keep their foot on the brake pedal and directly monitor the road ahead to prepare for sudden cut-ins or sharp curves.