Decrease in Traffic Accidents and Major Crimes During Chuseok Holiday Amid COVID-19 Impact

Focus on Theft and Domestic Violence Prevention... 10% Decrease in 112 Reports of Major Crimes
4,500 Road Traffic Violations Enforced

On the last day of the Chuseok holiday, the 4th, returning travelers are getting off the train at Seoul Station and heading home. / Photo by Mun Ho-nam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-ju] Due to the decrease in the number of people returning home amid the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) and active crime prevention activities, crimes and traffic accidents during this Chuseok holiday period have decreased compared to previous years.

The National Police Agency announced on the 4th that, as a result of conducting comprehensive security activities for the Chuseok holiday for 14 days starting from the 21st of last month, reports of major crimes and traffic accidents during the holiday period have decreased.

The average daily number of traffic accident fatalities during the holiday was 5, a 25.4% decrease compared to the previous year, and the number of injured dropped sharply to 453.8, a 47.3% reduction. The police deployed undercover patrol cars and drones on major highways to crack down on reckless and selfish driving, and nationwide roads saw 4,495 cases of illegal activities being caught.

Reports of major crimes to 112 also decreased compared to previous years. Theft cases decreased by 4.9% daily on average, and domestic violence dropped by 13.8%, resulting in an overall 10% daily average decrease in major crime reports to 112 compared to the previous year. During this period, the police made efforts to prevent crime by conducting crime prevention diagnostics and strengthening patrols at 10,288 vulnerable locations such as jewelry stores, financial institutions, and convenience stores, while also carefully managing 13,195 households at risk of domestic violence recurrence through prior monitoring, joint investigations, temporary measures, and victim protection.

Crimes that occurred were responded to swiftly and strictly. On the day before Chuseok, the 30th of last month, a suspect who was threatening drivers waiting at traffic signals while carrying a weapon on the street in Daejeon was apprehended, and on the 4th in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, two occupants of a stolen vehicle who collided with a pursuing patrol car and fled were arrested.

Warm police activities that saved precious lives also continued. On Chuseok day, the 1st, in Chilgok, Gyeongbuk, police received a report of a missing elderly person with dementia and, after a 7-hour search, safely rescued the elderly person showing dehydration symptoms at a golf course and handed them over to their family. On the same day in Gangneung, Gangwon Province, police received a report of a missing disabled child visiting their hometown and found the child after searching within a 3 km radius.

A National Police Agency official said, “We will make every effort to prevent crime and manage safe traffic until the last day of the Chuseok holiday,” adding, “We will do our best to ensure that the public can spend a peaceful Chuseok holiday.”

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