"Will Normal Work Hours Expand Again?" ... Slowdown in Decrease of Traffic Volume in Seoul

April Public Transportation Ridership Maintains 28.3% Decline
Decrease Rate Narrows by 6.3%p Compared to First Week of March

On the 11th, as confirmed COVID-19 cases increased due to a cluster infection at a call center on the 11th floor of the Korea Building in Sindorim-dong, citizens wearing masks are using the subway at Sindorim Station in Guro-gu, Seoul. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporter Jo In-kyung] As the government extended 'social distancing' measures until the 19th amid concerns over the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), the volume of traffic in Seoul continues to decrease, but the rate of decline is gradually lessening.

According to Seoul City on the 14th, during the first week of March when social distancing was implemented (March 2?6), the number of public transportation users decreased by 34.5% compared to before the COVID-19 outbreak (January 1?19), and automobile traffic volume decreased by 7.2%.

However, from April 6 to 10, compared to before the COVID-19 outbreak, the number of public transportation users decreased by 28.3%, and automobile traffic volume decreased by 3.4%, showing a reduction in the rate of decline by 6.3 percentage points and 3.8 percentage points respectively compared to a month earlier (March 2?6).

Weekend traffic volume also showed a smaller decrease compared to March 1, when the largest decline was recorded after the COVID-19 outbreak. On the 5th, the number of public transportation users decreased by 42.9% (-53.3% → -42.9%), a 10.3 percentage point improvement, and automobile traffic volume decreased by 12.4% (-24.4% → -12.4%), a 12.0 percentage point improvement.

This is interpreted as an increase in leisure travel by car, such as visitors enjoying spring outings, which softened the decline more than on weekdays.

Since April, the number of public transportation users during commuting hours has maintained a decreasing trend compared to before the COVID-19 outbreak, with a 19.8% decrease during morning commute hours and a 23.4% decrease during evening commute hours. However, compared to the first week of March immediately after social distancing began, the rate of decline has lessened by 5.0 percentage points and 4.7 percentage points respectively.

This is presumed to be due to many companies and institutions initially adopting telecommuting and flexible work schedules after the infectious disease alert was raised to the 'serious' level, but gradually returning to normal commuting patterns as the COVID-19 situation prolonged, leading to increased traffic volume.

Subway usage by seniors aged 65 and over in April has decreased by 38.2% on weekdays and 53.0% on weekends compared to before the COVID-19 outbreak. However, compared to a month ago (March 1?6), immediately after social distancing began, the rate of decline has lessened by 8.4 percentage points on weekdays and 9.7 percentage points on weekends.

Gu Jong-won, Director of Seoul City's Transportation Policy Division, said, "Citizens are actively practicing social distancing, so traffic volume continues to decline, but the rate of decrease is easing. We will do our best to manage disinfection so that the public can use public transportation with confidence."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.