The Base Toll Will Be Waived if You Re-enter an Expressway within 15 Minutes after a Mistaken Exit

[Financial News] Even if drivers mistakenly exit an expressway, the base toll will be waived if they re-enter through the same toll plaza within 15 minutes.
The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT) announced on the 29th that it will introduce the expressway mistaken-exit toll reduction system on October 1. Under the system, drivers who re-enter the same toll plaza within 15 minutes of mistakenly exiting will have the base toll portion of the toll they already paid waived.
Previously, drivers who mistakenly exited had to pay the base toll twice, even when they traveled only a short distance. This also created accident risks from dangerous lane changes made to avoid the additional charge. MOLIT explained that the measure is expected to reduce tolls by approximately 7.5 million cases a year, totaling 6.8 billion won based on 2025 figures.
Drivers must meet several requirements to receive the reduction: they must use a closed-system toll plaza on a government-funded expressway managed by Korea Expressway; re-enter within 15 minutes of exiting; re-enter through the same toll plaza; and use an electronic payment method such as the Hi-Pass electronic toll collection system. The reduction is limited to three times per vehicle per year. MOLIT expects most drivers to benefit, noting that approximately 90.2% of re-entering vehicles were found to have made mistaken exits no more than three times a year.
However, the reduction applies only to government-funded expressways. If a driver mistakenly exits through a privately financed expressway toll plaza and then re-enters through the same plaza, the base toll will not be waived. For a mistaken exit from a government-funded expressway, the base toll is deducted immediately upon re-entry. In the case of a privately financed expressway, determining whether the exit was a mistake takes time, so the amount is automatically deducted when the driver uses a government-funded expressway about two weeks later. Drivers who prefer a direct refund instead of an automatic deduction can apply through the Expressway Toll website or the Expressway Toll+ app.
MOLIT also urged drivers to take advantage of the weekend and public holiday toll discounts for households with multiple children, which have been in effect since July 28. Households with three or more minor children receive a 20% discount, while those with two minor children receive a 10% discount. The measure will be in effect temporarily for three years, through August 21, 2029. Drivers can register in advance through the Expressway Toll website or apply in person at a toll office. Those who register before the upcoming October holiday period will be able to receive the benefits. This discount also applies only to sections operated by Korea Expressway.
A MOLIT official stated, "We expect this system to resolve the inconvenience of having to pay the base toll twice because of a mistaken exit." The official added, "We will further strengthen public guidance so that people do not miss out on benefits simply because they are unaware of programs already in effect, such as the discount for households with multiple children."

[email protected] Jung Kyung-soo Reporter