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Busan to Support Toll Fees at Garak Tollgate During Commuting Hours, Fulfilling a 32-Year-Old Wish of Local Residents

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Busan Metropolitan City (Mayor Park Heong-joon) announced that beginning in June 2026, it will implement toll fee support during weekday commuting hours for the section between Garak Tollgate and Seobu Busan Interchange (IC) on the Namhae Expressway Branch 2.

This toll support measure follows the legislative notice of the “Ordinance on Toll Fee Support at Garak Tollgate of the Namhae Expressway Branch 2 of Busan Metropolitan City (Draft)” scheduled for September 10, 2025, and will take effect starting next June.

This section is a key hub for transportation and logistics, connecting eastern and western Busan, and linking industrial complexes in Mieum, Hwajeon, Noksan, and Sinhon as well as Busan New Port.

Since the mid-1990s, the City, local residents, and civic groups have continuously requested the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport to abolish the toll at Garak Tollgate and transfer its management. The Busan Metropolitan Council also pursued toll abolition nationwide by bringing the issue to the Council of Chairs of Provincial and Metropolitan Councils, but it was dismissed as part of national expressway policy.

The beneficiaries of this toll support are all vehicle types owned by Busan citizens and registered in Busan. Support will be provided for vehicles passing through the designated section during weekday commuting hours:

• ●Morning commute: 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m.

• ●Evening commute: 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

If the City provides support in addition to discounts currently offered by the Korea Expressway Corporation during commuting hours, Busan citizens will essentially not bear toll fees between 6:00–9:00 a.m. and 5:00–8:00 p.m.

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Busan Toll Fee Support Details (excerpt from page 2 table)

• ●Class 1 (KRW 1,000): In addition to existing discounts (20–50%), Busan will cover 50–100% depending on time slot.

• ●Class 2–3 (KRW 1,000 each) and Class 4 (KRW 1,100): No existing discounts; Busan to cover 100% during 6:00–9:00 a.m. and 5:00–8:00 p.m.

• ●Class 5 (KRW 1,200): Full 100% support during 5:00–8:00 p.m.

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Toll support will be limited to one round trip per vehicle per weekday, applicable only to vehicles using Hi-Pass (automated toll collection system).

The processing procedure is as follows:

• 1.Users register Hi-Pass card information through the forthcoming toll support system, and the City approves membership.

• 2.Users then download their highway driving records from the Korea Expressway Corporation’s website monthly or quarterly.

• 3.They upload the data to the toll support system.

• 4.The City reimburses the toll fee directly to the user.

It is estimated that toll support will apply to an annual average of 4.44 million vehicles, or a daily average of 18,000 vehicles, thereby easing the financial burden of citizens and local industries.

Additionally, by dispersing traffic from the congested National Highway No. 2, this measure is expected to improve road efficiency and help create a safer, more comfortable traffic environment.

The City plans to complete consultations with relevant agencies by the second half of this year, enact the ordinance in December, secure final approval in the 2026 main budget, and complete construction of the toll support system by May 2026. The project will be operated under the management of the Busan Infrastructure Corporation.

Mayor Park Heong-joon stated, “Through toll support implemented for commuting residents after 32 years, we will reduce logistics costs, strengthen the competitiveness of companies in nearby industrial complexes, revitalize cargo volume at Busan New Port, and further promote balanced regional development. We will swiftly address any issues that arise during policy implementation, actively incorporate citizens’ valuable opinions, and advance this into a high-quality policy. We will continue striving for the future of the regional economy and the happiness of citizens’ lives.”