The annual mass exodus from South Korean cities out to the countryside has begun with the lunar New Year holiday just around the corner.

The Korea Expressway Corporation says more than 350-thousand cars are expected to leave Seoul via major highways on Friday alone.

The corporation added that 16 million cars, or four percent more than last year, would take to the road for this year's holiday. Complicating matters is that this year's holiday period is spread over only three days, shorter than in previous years.

Traffic congestion is expected to be at its worst on Saturday morning and then again on Monday afternoon when the holiday ends.

The corporation said it will temporarily open highways that are under construction to help ease traffic congestion during the holiday period, and drastically expand the service of express buses and trains to ensure smooth traffic flow during the holiday.

[Photo : ]