How do highway tolls work in Korea?

Korean expressways are toll roads, and the system runs smoothly once you are set up. Hi-Pass is the electronic toll system, where you mount a small transponder on your windshield with a rechargeable Hi-Pass card inside, and the gates open automatically as you drive through the Hi-Pass lanes without stopping. If you do not have it, just take a regular lane, grab a ticket when you enter, and pay by card or cash at the exit.

Should you get one? If you drive highways even occasionally it is worth it, since you skip the queues, get a small discount, and pay reduced rates during late-night hours. You can buy a Hi-Pass terminal at stores like E-Mart or Hi-Mart, online, or at highway service areas, and reload the card at convenience stores, banks, or service-area kiosks. Cost depends on distance and vehicle size, but as a rough idea Seoul to Busan runs somewhere around 23,000 to 25,000 won for a regular car. You can estimate any route's toll in advance on the Korea Expressway Corporation site or app. If you rent cars often, many rentals already have a Hi-Pass unit installed and you simply settle the tolls when you return the car.