Seoul City Buses and Subways Reduce Operations by 20% After 10 PM

Social Distancing Level 2 and Ten Million Citizens Emergency Stop Period: Encouraging Early Return Home

As the 'social distancing' level in the Seoul metropolitan area was raised to Level 2 starting at midnight on the 24th, quarantine measures were significantly strengthened, especially in multi-use facilities. Separately, the Seoul Metropolitan Government declared a 'Pause Period for 10 Million Citizens' until the end of the year, implementing measures such as enhanced Seoul-style precision quarantine for 10 major facilities within the city, a complete ban on gatherings of more than 10 people throughout Seoul, and a 20% reduction in public transportation operations after 10 p.m. The photo shows quarantine company personnel conducting disinfection at the Yeouido Transfer Center in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, on the same day. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Jo In-kyung] In line with the 'Emergency Pause Period for Ten Million Citizens' implemented from today to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), the Seoul Metropolitan Government will reduce nighttime public transportation operations by 20% after 10 p.m.

The city announced on the 24th that it will launch a large-scale management system to practice stronger social distancing, minimize unnecessary movement of citizens, and encourage early return home to prevent the resurgence of cluster infections in the metropolitan area.

Earlier, the number of public transportation users in the second week of this month decreased by only 16.7% compared to the same period last year, which Seoul explained was somewhat relaxed compared to the 38.9% decrease during the 2.5-level social distancing from August 30 to September 12.

Accordingly, from 10 p.m. to midnight on the 24th, city bus operations during nighttime hours will be reduced to 80% of the usual level. Operations during other hours (4 a.m. to 10 p.m.) will continue as usual, and owl buses and squirrel buses will also continue to operate during late-night hours.

Route reductions will be carried out comprehensively considering factors such as the number of passengers boarding after 10 p.m., whether the route serves essential functions, and onboard congestion. Routes experiencing onboard congestion (36 or more passengers boarding, congestion rate of 80%) after the reduction will have their operation levels restored to normal.

Previously, when Seoul reduced city bus routes by 20% after 9 p.m. from August 31 to September 13, passenger numbers decreased by approximately 27.5%.

For the subway, after sufficient prior notice and preparation through announcements and public campaigns, a 20% reduction in nighttime operations after 10 p.m. will begin on the 27th.

Since the implementation of everyday social distancing, the subway has been managed through measures such as the introduction of congestion forecasting systems, maintaining stability with a passenger decrease of over 12% on Line 2 compared to last year. However, congestion during commuting hours (8 a.m. to 9 a.m.) increased from 87% in March, right after the COVID-19 outbreak, to 118% this month.

Nighttime and late-night congestion after 10 p.m. also rose from about 9% in March to 50% in November, an increase of more than five times. Congestion after 11 p.m., a later time, has increased to a level close to 52%, which was the level before the COVID-19 outbreak.

Therefore, while implementing subway operation reductions after 10 p.m., the city plans to consider, in consultation with the central government, further shortening the subway's last train time from midnight to 11 p.m. if the COVID-19 emergency situation continues.

Hwang Bo-yeon, Director of Urban Transportation at Seoul City, said, "This Emergency Pause Period for Ten Million Citizens is a critical time when we must stop the rapidly increasing spread of COVID-19," and urged, "Since this is a desperate measure to reduce unnecessary nighttime movement by encouraging early return home, we ask citizens to actively participate."

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