Seriously, I was so surprised driving in Busan today! If you use the Naeseong Underpass for your commute or errands, you must have been incredibly flustered this morning. What on earth happened?
To be honest, I struggled quite a bit with traffic congestion from the morning. The Naeseong Underpass, a key transportation artery in Dongnae-gu, Busan, was suddenly completely closed in both directions, turning the road into a parking lot. Frankly, this situation is really frustrating.
What’s Happening Now? Sudden Closure of Naeseong Underpass
As of 5:30 PM today (April 5, 2026), both entry and exit points of the Naeseong Underpass in Dongnae-gu, Busan, are completely blocked. Many people, including myself, only found out after receiving a disaster alert.
The sudden closure has led to severe congestion from Gyodae Intersection to the direction of the old Dongbu Terminal Intersection. The city of Busan is urging drivers to use alternate routes, but traffic experts point out that the city hasn’t clearly stated the reason for the closure, increasing public confusion. In the morning, they advised slow driving due to an uneven road surface, but now entry is completely blocked, which suggests it might be for safety reasons.
Why is the Naeseong Underpass So Important?
Honestly, anyone who has driven in Busan knows the importance of the Naeseong Intersection. The Naeseong Underpass is a crucial facility located on Jungang-daero in Oncheon-dong, Dongnae-gu, allowing drivers to pass through Naeseong Intersection without traffic lights.
Busan, in particular, has many mountains and seas, making road expansion difficult due to its geographical characteristics. Therefore, grade-separated intersections like underpasses play a huge role in smoothing urban traffic flow. Being able to pass quickly without waiting for signals is incredibly helpful during rush hour. Personally, I’ve saved a lot of time thanks to the underpass.
From Past Flood Concerns to Future Traffic Changes
In fact, while underpasses have advantages, they also carry risks. Especially during heavy rainfall, there’s always a risk of flooding, and Busan has had cases of casualties due to underpass flooding in the past.
That’s why in November 2024, emergency ladders were installed in the Naeseong Underpass and Anrak Underpass in Dongnae-gu to allow for quick evacuation in case of flooding. Given that such efforts were made, yet a sudden closure like today’s still occurred, it seems road safety is truly an issue that requires constant attention. Fortunately, with the recent opening of the ‘Mandeok-Centum Urban Expressway,’ there’s hope that traffic volume will be dispersed from habitually congested areas like Naeseong Intersection.
Hearing the news of the Naeseong Underpass closure today, I was once again reminded that safety management is always essential behind convenience. I sincerely hope that the cause of the closure is quickly identified and safely restored so that citizens can use it without inconvenience. And in the future, I hope for faster and clearer information during such emergency closures, to alleviate drivers’ frustrations even a little.
