"Can I Go Home?"... Chuseok Approaches, Yet Travel Concerns Remain

Up to 8 Family Members Including Vaccinated Individuals Allowed for 1 Week During Chuseok Holiday
As COVID-19 Spread Intensifies... "Visiting Hometown Risky If Parents Are Not Fully Vaccinated"
This Chuseok, Travel Volume Expected to Increase by 3.5% Compared to Last Year

Citizens are hurrying their steps at the Express Bus Terminal Station. The photo is unrelated to specific expressions in the article. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Midam] # Park, a man in his 30s living alone in Seoul, is troubled ahead of the upcoming Chuseok holiday. He wants to visit his parents in his hometown of Busan, but the number of COVID-19 cases is not decreasing easily, making it difficult for him to make a decision. Park said, "Since the number of confirmed cases is especially high in Seoul, I am worried about going down to Busan. Also, acquaintances living in Busan have been asking if it's okay to come down, so I feel awkward." He added, "I have booked a train ticket, but I might cancel it depending on the situation."

As the Chuseok holiday approaches, the spread of COVID-19 is intensifying day by day, causing more people to hesitate about returning home. Compared to the Lunar New Year holiday, restrictions on gathering sizes have been eased, leading some to decide to visit their hometowns. However, with daily confirmed cases remaining in the thousands and the fourth wave continuing, many find it hard to make a clear decision about traveling home.

The government’s concern over the spread of infection through family gatherings during the Chuseok holiday has deepened citizens' worries. While some citizens intend to visit their hometowns to meet family during the nation’s biggest holiday, others have expressed their intention to forgo returning home this time.

On the 15th, Son Young-rae, head of the Social Strategy Division at the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters, said at the regular briefing of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters (CDSCH), "For this Chuseok, we recommend completing vaccination or getting tested before visiting your hometown with the minimum number of people for the safety of yourself and your family." He added, "Especially if elderly parents aged 60 or older have not completed vaccination, family gatherings involving many people from various regions could endanger their health."

Earlier, the government partially eased private gathering restrictions during the Chuseok period. According to the 'Chuseok Special Quarantine Measures' announced earlier this month, from the 17th to the 23rd, including the Chuseok holiday, even in areas under Level 4 social distancing, family gatherings of up to 8 people, including those fully vaccinated, are allowed at home.

On the afternoon of the 15th, ahead of the Chuseok holiday, a quarantine official is disinfecting a train after passengers have left at SRT Suseo Station in Gangnam-gu, Seoul. [Image source=Yonhap News]

With family gatherings allowed during the Chuseok holiday, some are now planning postponed family meetings. Lee, a 26-year-old office worker, said, "I didn’t go home during the Lunar New Year, so if I go to my hometown this time, it will be almost a year since I last saw my parents." He added, "Since I work, it’s hard to see my parents except during holidays, so I’m glad the gathering restrictions were eased this Chuseok." He continued, "I’m worried because the COVID-19 situation is serious, but since the Chuseok holiday is long, it couldn’t be helped."

However, some express concerns that the COVID-19 situation could worsen further starting from the Chuseok holiday. There are warnings that if quarantine rules are neglected during family travel or the process of going to hometowns, a nationwide outbreak could occur.

Song, a 25-year-old university student living alone in Seoul, said, "These days, having over 1,000 confirmed cases is normal. Especially since this Chuseok holiday is long, some will go to their hometowns, but surely some will travel elsewhere too. That will worsen the situation." He added, "I decided not to go home, thinking I should follow quarantine guidelines myself."

Despite the COVID-19 spread being more severe than during the Lunar New Year holiday when the 'ban on gatherings of five or more' was applied, some criticize the easing of gathering restrictions as inappropriate. In February, during the Lunar New Year holiday, the total number of new domestic cases was 11,495 over a month, averaging about 400 per day, but family gatherings were limited to 4 people.

One netizen criticized, "I didn’t go home last Lunar New Year thinking the COVID-19 spread would have calmed by Chuseok. But the situation has worsened daily, and the government eased private gathering restrictions. I don’t understand. Isn’t this the time to tighten restrictions more?"

Meanwhile, many citizens exhausted by the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic are planning to travel during the Chuseok holiday. The Korea Transport Institute predicts that 32.26 million people will travel from the 17th to the 23rd. This averages 5.38 million people per day, which is 1.1 million (3.5%) more than last year’s Chuseok (31.16 million). The number of vehicles using highways is expected to average 4.72 million per day.

On the other hand, quarantine authorities emphasize the importance of quarantine during the Chuseok holiday and urge minimal travel and gatherings. Park Hyang, head of the Quarantine General Division at the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters, said at the regular briefing on the 14th, "As the number of contacts increases, the risk of infection spread rises proportionally." He urged, "Please consider staggering the times among siblings so that the number of family members gathering can be minimized."

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