Perhaps the most eerie tales are born from the fog-laden roads near Jayuro Interchange. This isn’t just another interchange. The Jayuro Interchange marks the northern end of the Jayu Motorway. This road is also known as Freedom Road.
The Jayu Motorway stretches from Seoul to Paju. It runs for about 50 kilometers. Construction began in May 1990. The first section opened in August 1992. The final section reached Jayu Bridge and opened in September 1994.
Jayuro Interchange connects Jayu Motorway to National Route 1. Route 1 leads to the DMZ and North Korea. From certain points on Jayu Motorway, you can even glimpse North Korea.
But it is the legend of the Jayuro Ghost that truly captures the imagination. This vanishing hitchhiker appears on foggy nights. Many accidents occur here because of the fog. The story tells of a woman wearing sunglasses. But upon closer inspection, the sunglasses are revealed to be empty eye sockets. Another version speaks of a driver picking up the Jayuro Ghost. She then directs him to a cemetery before disappearing. Celebrities have even claimed to have seen the Jayuro Ghost.
The story gained traction in the early 2000s. According to one account, a TV show tried to contact the ghost. They used a medium. The medium claimed the Jayuro Ghost was a woman murdered in 2002. Her eyes appeared gouged out due to decay. The medium also claimed the murderer was arrested in 2005. But no police report confirmed this.
Whether true or not, the tale adds a chilling layer to the Jayuro Interchange. The Jayuro Ghost serves as a reminder of the stories that roads can hold. So as you pass through the Jayuro Interchange, remember the legend. Be aware of more than just the road ahead. You never know who or what might be waiting in the fog.