For electric vehicle drivers heading home for the Chuseok holiday, the biggest hazard is an endless wait to charge at a highway rest stop. When long-distance traffic converges all at once, it is common for several cars to queue up for a single charger. Even with fast charging, drivers can easily lose one to two hours once waiting time is added.
Experts say a full charge before departure is a given, and that identifying backup charging sites off the highway in advance can help drivers avoid "charging hell." Near major interchanges along holiday routes, large fast-charging stations are widely available at local government offices, discount retailers and mixed-use shopping malls. Exiting at an interchange just before a congested stretch and using a fast charger five to 10 minutes away can save time spent charging.
Checking real-time information is also essential. Using the Korea Expressway Corporation's highway traffic information application or the government's zero-emission vehicle portal, drivers can check in real time whether chargers at nearby rest stops are available or out of service.
The government is also rolling out emergency support to ease holiday charging congestion. The Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment and the Korea Expressway Corporation plan to deploy 19 mobile chargers at eight highway rest stops where charging demand is expected to concentrate during the holiday period from the 23rd to the 27th, including Hanam Dream in Gyeonggi Province, Hongcheon on the Seoul-Yangyang route, Chuncheon, Gujeong, Songnisan and Buyeo Baekje on the Seocheon-Gongju route. To prevent extended occupancy and help drivers in urgent need, the mobile chargers will give priority to vehicles with batteries less than half full, providing about 20 kilowatt-hours per vehicle.
EV charging rates will also be sharply discounted during the Chuseok holiday from the 24th to the 27th. Between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., when power demand falls, public EV charging rates will be discounted by up to 50%. The discount applies to privately owned chargers billed directly by KEPCO, as well as public EV charging stations operated by the climate ministry and KEPCO. Rate tables by charger output and charger locations nationwide can also be found on the zero-emission vehicle portal.
Drivers should also be careful not to rely too heavily on driving-assistance features such as smart cruise control while behind the wheel. The systems maintain distance from the vehicle ahead and keep the car within its lane, greatly reducing fatigue on long drives, but the technology has limits when sudden situations arise on highways during the holiday, and inattention can lead to a serious accident. According to the Korea Insurance Development Institute and the General Insurance Association of Korea, accidents causing injury on the day before the Chuseok holiday have risen 45.3% above normal levels over the past five years. One expert said it is essential to keep a foot over the brake pedal and watch the road ahead directly, in case of sudden merges or sharp curves.
