Busan eliminates rush hour tolls on Gwangan Bridge

(Photo courtesy of Haps Magazine Korea)

Driving across Gwangan Bridge during weekday rush hours became free on July 8, as Busan expanded toll relief measures aimed at reducing commuting costs.

Under the new policy, all vehicles using the bridge Monday through Friday (excluding public holidays) are exempt from paying tolls between 6 a.m. and 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. No advance registration or application is required.

Outside the designated hours, regular tolls continued to apply.

Standard tolls remained 500 won for compact cars, 1,000 won for passenger vehicles, and 1,500 won for large and special-purpose vehicles.

The city had gradually expanded commuter toll discounts over the past decade. A 20% discount was first introduced in 2009 before increasing to 50% in 2018.

In 2025, the morning discount period was extended to begin at 6 a.m. instead of 7 a.m. The new policy replaced the previous 50% discount with a full toll exemption.

City officials said they expected the measure to help ease transportation costs for commuters while contributing to broader efforts to reduce household expenses.

Busan also said it would continue monitoring traffic conditions on Gwangan Bridge, as well as Eulsukdo Bridge and Sanseong Tunnel, where similar rush-hour toll exemptions were already in place.

Officials added that they would monitor traffic around the exemption periods and could consider measures against vehicles that intentionally caused congestion by slowing traffic or stopping in emergency lanes.

Fleet Chinhae