Normal Operation of Screening Clinics and No Extension of Last Public Transport... Seoul City Launches 'Chuseok Comprehensive Measures'

Comprehensive Chuseok Measures in Five Key Areas: Safety, Traffic, Daily Life, Prices, and Sharing

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] Seoul City announced on the 13th that it will implement the '2021 Chuseok Comprehensive Measures' during this year's Chuseok holiday period amid the 4th wave of COVID-19, focusing on two main pillars: 'high-intensity quarantine' and 'vitalization of the livelihood economy.' The comprehensive measures will be promoted through 20 detailed tasks across five areas: safety, transportation, daily life, prices, and sharing.

As this Chuseok holiday is expected to be a critical turning point in the 4th wave, the last train times for public transportation will not be extended again, following the Lunar New Year holiday. Additional city buses passing through municipal cemeteries and free shuttle bus services will also not be operated. Disinfection will be intensified at eight major stations, including Seoul Station, where an influx of returning and departing travelers is expected.

Twenty-five screening clinics at district health centers will operate from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. during the holiday period. However, some of the 55 temporary screening clinics will either not operate or have shortened hours, so it is necessary to check the Seoul City website, app, or the 120 Dasan Call Center before visiting. Treatment facilities such as infectious disease-dedicated hospitals and residential treatment centers will also operate normally during the holiday period.

Additionally, to revitalize the local economy, Seoul City began selling 'Seoul Love Gift Certificates' at a 10% discount from the 1st of this month, with sales starting by district. Individuals can purchase up to 700,000 KRW per district, and the certificates are valid for five years.

Seoul City plans to set up and operate a 24-hour 'Comprehensive Situation Room' on the first floor of Seoul City Hall from 6 p.m. on the 17th to 9 a.m. on the 23rd to promptly respond to emergencies occurring during the holiday period.

Activation of COVID-19 Spread Response System, Strengthened Quarantine... No Extension of Last Public Transport Times

Seoul City will first maintain the activation of the COVID-19 spread response system and strengthen quarantine measures. The Seoul Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters situation room will operate normally to respond promptly to infection spread, and the testing and treatment system to prevent infectious disease spread will be maintained through screening clinics, infectious disease-dedicated hospitals, and residential treatment centers.

‘Mobile screening clinics’ have been installed at major public transportation hubs expected to have many users during the Chuseok holiday, such as SRT Suseo Station, Nambu Terminal, and Gimpo Airport. Seoul City is operating temporary screening clinics at major transportation hubs like Seoul Station and Yongsan Station, and through the installation of mobile screening clinics, it will make every effort to prevent the Chuseok holiday from becoming a turning point for COVID-19 spread.

Previously, Seoul City established disinfection management plans for parks, Han River parks, and municipal cemeteries and has been conducting quarantine inspections of private multi-use facilities such as department stores and traditional markets since before the holiday began. Furthermore, to create a quarantine-friendly holiday atmosphere, the message "This Chuseok, safety comes first before meeting" is being promoted through the Seoul City website, SNS, KakaoTalk channel, and private portals.

Pre-inspections to prevent safety accidents at construction sites and various facilities will be conducted, along with fire safety inspections to prevent fires. Safety inspections of 220 urban infrastructure construction sites, 292 large private building permit construction sites, and 26 city-managed parks will be completed before the holiday begins. Additionally, fire safety inspections for 736 COVID-19-related facilities, including residential treatment centers and infectious disease-dedicated hospitals (from August 27 to September 14), will also be completed before the holiday.

Moreover, Seoul City will not extend the last public transportation times to discourage movement and will not increase city buses passing through municipal cemeteries. Disinfection of subways and buses will continue, and special disinfection will be conducted at terminals and major stations. Isolation rooms for suspected infected persons will be operated at five city terminals (Express Bus Terminal, Central City, Dong Seoul, Nambu, Sangbong) to immediately isolate suspected cases. Disinfection and sterilization inside terminals will be conducted more than three times a day, and infection prevention guidelines will be announced via electronic boards and public announcements.

120 Dasan Call Center Operates 24 Hours... Measures to Revitalize Traditional Markets and Alley Economies Implemented

Seoul City will minimize citizen inconvenience through 24-hour operation of the 120 Dasan Call Center, designation of hospitals and pharmacies open during the holiday, strengthened patrol activities in areas prone to illegal garbage dumping, and special work shifts for sanitation workers. The 120 Dasan Call Center will provide 24-hour consultation on citizen inconveniences during the holiday. It will provide information on hospitals and pharmacies open during the holiday, garbage disposal days, and other daily life information, as well as operate a separate COVID-19 dedicated code '0'.

Additionally, 2,932 hospitals and clinics and 4,741 pharmacies open during the holiday have been designated to prepare for emergency patients, and 66 emergency medical institutions operating 24 hours will maintain an emergency medical system. To maintain a clean environment, public officials and sanitation workers will conduct thorough cleaning before the holiday begins. During the holiday, patrol teams will strengthen activities in areas prone to illegal garbage dumping, and sanitation workers will work special shifts.

Measures to prevent price increases in holiday shopping baskets and to promote traditional markets and alley economies will also be implemented. Supply volumes of nine seasonal products, including apples, pears, chestnuts, and croaker fish, will be supplied at about 110% of the three-year average transaction volume excluding the highest and lowest values from the past five years' two weeks before Chuseok to stabilize prices. Inspection teams will be formed to intensively manage and eradicate unfair trade practices such as hoarding, measurement violations, and failure to display price tags for agricultural and marine products.

To support the use of traditional markets, parking and stopping regulations around some traditional markets (93 locations) will be temporarily relaxed, and Chuseok holiday events such as discount sales of ritual items will be supported to revitalize markets. The issuance of Chuseok Seoul Love Gift Certificates has been completed to revive the depressed local commercial districts and support economical shopping. With a total scale of 232.9 billion KRW and a 10% discount rate, sales started on the 1st by 24 districts, and individuals can purchase up to 700,000 KRW per district.

Customized Support for Marginalized Neighbors Such as the Elderly, Disabled, and Homeless

Seoul City will provide customized support for marginalized neighbors such as the elderly, disabled, and homeless, and check the safety of vulnerable elderly. Chuseok consolation gifts will be provided to 1,030 elderly residents in free nursing facilities and to 2,143 disabled residents in residential facilities. During the Chuseok holiday period, free meals will be provided two to three times a day through 41 homeless facilities, and 2,778 residents of jjokbang (small rooms) will receive lunch boxes through jjokbang counseling centers.

Furthermore, free meals for 27,127 children at risk of food insecurity will continue uninterrupted during the Chuseok holiday. Support will be provided through group meal sites such as social welfare centers and local children's centers, as well as through general restaurants and lunch box delivery methods. The safety of elderly people aged 65 and over who are recipients of basic national livelihood security and require care will also be checked. Before, during, and after the holiday, a total of 3,020 life support workers and social workers will check the safety and health status of 33,375 vulnerable elderly.

Kim Ui-seung, Director of the Planning and Coordination Office, said, "This Chuseok comprehensive plan was carefully prepared across all fields, focusing on quarantine amid the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic, while maintaining disaster and accident preparedness, stabilizing holiday prices, and supporting vulnerable groups." He added, "We ask all citizens to comply with quarantine rules such as wearing masks, social distancing, and immediately undergoing screening tests if symptoms appear, so that everyone can have a safe and comfortable holiday."

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