South Korea has outlined an ambitious plan to build in the next three years a network of smart expressways, adapted to electric vehicles and self-driving cars, to limit traffic congestions and polluting emissions.

The government will invest $US33.1 billion ($A43.8 billion) and plans to raise another $US31.3 billion ($A41.5 billion) through private sector investment to finance the plan until 2020, the South Korean transport ministry said.

The new network that add to other measures by the South Korean government, including tax cuts to encourage the use of electric vehicles, will come equipped with charging stations for electric vehicles at key junctions.

Intelligent transportation systems (ITS) will also be installed to ensure safety of autonomous vehicles and prevent accidents through a virtual structure of traffic monitoring.

The government also plans to incorporate a smart toll system that will not require the installation of booths nor stop or slow down vehicles.

The project also includes the construction of an additional 1000km of expressways that will extend the country’s total road network to 5131km.

According to plan, 96 per cent of the country’s 50 million people will be able to access these expressways in less than 30 minutes.

The expressways will make 78.2 per cent of South Korea’s total area accessible, up from the present 70 per cent, according to the ministry.