Drivers using Seoul’s Olympic Expressway can now take a break while enjoying views of the Han River, as the city opens its first scenic rest area designed to help prevent drowsy driving.

The new facility officially opens on July 1 on the Gimpo-bound side of the Olympic Expressway, near the southern end of Olympic Bridge. It is the first rest area of its kind on one of Seoul’s urban expressways.

Unlike traditional drowsy driving rest stops, the facility combines practical amenities with a riverside viewpoint overlooking the Han River, offering a place for motorists to rest during long drives while taking in sunset and nighttime views.

The site includes 27 parking spaces, a 24-hour public restroom, an indoor lounge, an observation deck and a walking path. CCTV cameras, emergency call buttons and dedicated acceleration and deceleration lanes have also been installed to improve safety.

The project addresses a lack of rest facilities along Seoul’s expressways, where drivers have had few opportunities to stop despite long stretches of uninterrupted road.

According to the Seoul Facilities Corporation, four drowsy driving accidents were recorded on the 43.1-kilometer Olympic Expressway between 2021 and 2025.

USAG Yongsan

Camp Casey