"Temporary Parking Allowed Near Traditional Markets" Seoul Metropolitan Autonomous Police Committee Implements Chuseok Citizen Convenience Measures

Special Traffic Management for Frequent Congestion Areas such as Homecoming and Ancestral Visit Routes
Strengthening Prevention Activities against Sexual Harassment and Theft Using Subway Congestion
Patrol Operations in Tourist Security Demand Areas like Hangang Park and Namsan Seoul Tower

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] The Seoul Autonomous Police Committee announced on the 13th that it held the 12th extraordinary meeting on the 10th and approved the establishment and implementation plan of measures to enhance citizen convenience by the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency during the Chuseok holiday.

The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency plans to implement measures including ▲temporary parking allowance around 93 traditional markets before and after the holiday ▲special traffic management in habitual congestion areas such as the homecoming and return routes and ancestral grave visiting routes ▲strengthening prevention activities against sexual harassment and theft in the subway ▲enhancing security activities at major tourist sites.

First, from the 13th to the 22nd, temporary parking will be allowed on roads around 93 traditional markets throughout Seoul for 10 days to revitalize the local economy and provide convenience to users. The permitted areas will be easily identifiable to market users through banners around the markets, and parking enforcement will be suspended during this period.

Additionally, traffic management at terminals and highway entrances and exits will be conducted to alleviate traffic inconveniences on homecoming and return routes, and traffic safety activities will be strengthened to prevent illegal parking around ancestral grave visiting routes and palaces. Furthermore, for habitual congestion points within Seoul city, from the 13th to October 29th, improvements in signal operation systems and lane adjustments will be made to relieve citizens' traffic inconveniences.

The Subway Police Unit and Seoul Metro will strengthen prevention activities against sexual harassment and theft crimes exploiting subway congestion through joint duty before and after Chuseok. From the 13th to the 23rd, the Subway Police Unit will deploy plainclothes officers at subway stations connected to major shopping malls and tourist sites for 11 days to intensify prevention activities against sexual harassment and pickpocketing. Seoul Metro will also conduct crime prevention activities such as inspecting CCTV blind spots in crowded areas like platforms and concourses and increasing patrols inside trains through joint duty with the Subway Police Unit.

Safety at major tourist sites in Seoul will also be enhanced. The Tourist Police Unit, anticipating increased outdoor activities as people refrain from visiting their hometowns, will form three patrol teams from the 18th to the 22nd to strengthen crime prevention patrols in tourist-dense areas such as Hangang Park, Seoul Tower, and palaces. They will also distribute quarantine supplies such as wet wipes and hand sanitizers to citizens to ensure compliance with COVID-19 prevention guidelines.

In celebration of the Chuseok holiday, the Autonomous Police Committee, along with the Citizen Monitoring Group, Seoul City, Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, Seoul Regional Railroad Special Judicial Police Unit, and autonomous districts, will conduct joint inspections on illegal hidden cameras in restrooms at heavily used facilities such as Seoul Station and the Express Bus Terminal over two days on the 15th and 16th. The inspection targets are train stations and bus terminals with high passenger flow during the holiday. If illegal hidden cameras are found during the inspection, immediate investigation will be initiated. Additionally, places within restrooms where small cameras can be easily installed, such as holes, will be notified to facility managers for repair.

Kim Hak-bae, Chairman of the Seoul Autonomous Police Committee, said, “As restrictions on the number of people gathering for vaccinated individuals have been partially eased this Chuseok holiday, an increase in movement is expected. We will do our best to enhance convenience for Seoul citizens and ensure safe use of multi-use facilities.”

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