Expressways (Korean: 고속도로; Hanja: 高速道路; RR: Gosokdoro) in South Korea, officially known as National Expressways (Korean: 고속국도; Hanja: 高速國道; RR: Gosokgukdo), are controlled-access highways that form the highest level of the country's road network. Most sections are tolled and maintained by the Korea Expressway Corporation, though a few routes are built and managed by approved private companies.
History
On 2 September 1967, the first expressway of South Korea, nowadays Gyeongin Expressway, was assigned[1] as Second-class National Highway 95 Seoul–Incheon (2급국도 제95호선 서울인천선) by the presidential decree. The very first section of expressway was opened[2] on 21 December 1968. At first, expressways were assigned as a part of national highways, but since 31 August 1971, they were assigned as the new separated class: National Expressways.[3]
Under the new numbering scheme implemented on 25 August 2001,[4] expressway numbers were assigned based on a grid system, reflecting the layout proposed in the 3rd Comprehensive National Territorial Planning[5] (Korean: 제3차국토종합개발계획) in 1992. This updated system was influenced by the numbering conventions of the Interstate Highway System in the United States. The details are:
Trunk routes: These are numbered with two digits. North–south routes are assigned odd numbers, while east–west routes are given even numbers. Primary routes are numbered progressively from south to north or west to east, with the first digit increasing and the last digit ending in either 5 or 0.
Branch routes: Branch routes off trunk routes have three-digit numbers, with the first two digits corresponding to the main trunk route number.
Circular routes: Circular routes are numbered in increments of 100, based on the postal code system used from 1988 to 2015.
Route numbers ranging from 70 to 99 are reserved for potential use following Korean reunification and are currently unused.
There are a few exceptions:
The Gyeongbu Expressway is an exception to the numbering rules. Due to its critical importance in the network, it retains the route number 1.
There are multiple east–west branches on Capital Region First Ring Expressway (Expressway 100), but they are not numbered as the rule of branch routes; instead, they are numbered 110, 120, and 130, respectively.
The current highway shield for expressways is inspired by U.S. highway signage, combining the shape of U.S. Highway shields with the red, white, and blue color scheme of U.S. Interstate shields which are the same colors used in the South Korean flag.
Most of the expressway network is managed by the Korea Expressway Corporation. Since 2000, however, some routes have been constructed and operated by private companies under government approval. These privately operated routes are managed for a limited time before transitioning to public control.
From Sintanjin interchange, Daejeon to Yangjae interchange, Seoul, a pair of central lanes are dedicated as a bus lane on holidays; technically, it is operated as HOV-6 with cars with 9+ passenger capacity. On weekdays, the restriction is narrowed to Anseong interchange, Anseong to Yangjae interchange.
Motorway ahead and no motorcycles sign
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.[7][8]
Since March 15, 1992, all motorcycles except police motorcycles have been banned from certain other roads designated for motor vehicles only.[9][10][11][12] These roads are marked by a circular blue sign with a white silhouette of a car.
^(in Korean)대통령령 제3202호 1급국도와2급국도의노선지정의건 (Presidential Decree No. 3202 Assignment of First-class National Highways and Second-class National Highways), 2 September 1967.
^"京水京仁高速道路개통". The Dong-A Ilbo (in Korean). Seoul. 21 December 1968. p. 1. Retrieved 3 January 2025.
^(in Korean)대통령령 제5770호 고속국도노선지정령 (Presidential Decree No. 5770 Assignment of National Expressways), 31 August 1971.
^(in Korean)대통령령 제17228호 고속국도노선지정령 (Presidential Decree No. 17228 Assignment of National Expressways), 25 August 2001.
^The National Atlas of Korea (Map) (2019 ed.). National Geography Information Institute. December 2019. § 3rd Comprehensive National Territorial Planning. Retrieved 3 January 2025.
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