The First Chuseok After Social Distancing Lifted... Seoul City Implements Comprehensive Measures for Quarantine, Traffic, and Prices

Comprehensive Chuseok Measures in 5 Key Areas, 24-Hour Emergency Response System Activated

On the 29th, ahead of the Chuseok holiday, Gwangjang Market in Jongno-gu, Seoul, is bustling with citizens. Photo by Mun Ho-nam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] The Seoul Metropolitan Government will implement a comprehensive Chuseok plan for seven days from the 7th to the 13th. Since this Chuseok is the first holiday after the lifting of social distancing measures, the city has placed emphasis on ensuring a safe and healthy holiday. The city aims to thoroughly prevent the resurgence of COVID-19 and to be fully prepared for autumn typhoons and other natural disasters, ensuring a safe and healthy holiday season.

The comprehensive plan announced by Seoul on the 4th consists of 18 detailed tasks across five major areas: safety, transportation, daily life, prices, and sharing. From the 8th to the 13th, Seoul will operate a 'Comprehensive Situation Room' on the first floor of Seoul City Hall, staffed by task forces for each sector, running 24 hours a day to promptly respond to emergencies and civil complaints during the holiday period.

At least one screening clinic per district... Securing 1,001 dedicated COVID-19 treatment beds

First, to maintain an uninterrupted COVID-19 testing and treatment system, the city will operate at least one public health center screening clinic and temporary screening clinic per autonomous district, and operate a total of 1,001 dedicated COVID-19 treatment beds. Emergency medical institutions (50 locations) and emergency medical centers (17 locations) for emergency patients will also operate 24 hours a day.

For general consultations, administrative information centers, integrated call centers, and the 120 Dasan Call Center will continue to operate by district, and medical consultations will be available 24 hours at three medical consultation centers (Hyemin Hospital, Gangnam Pedro Hospital, Gippeum Hospital). While operating at least one public health center screening clinic and temporary screening clinic per district, 130,000 rapid antigen test kits will be distributed to quickly block community spread.

One-stop medical institutions will be intensively operated on the first day (around 170 locations) and the fourth day (around 296 locations) of the holiday when testing demand is expected to increase, and on Chuseok day, an average of more than three locations per district will operate. Pharmacies responsible for dispensing oral COVID-19 treatments will also operate an average of more than three locations per district during the holiday period.

Resumption of extended last subway and city bus service... 927 additional daily express and intercity bus trips

With the lifting of social distancing, extended last train and city bus service hours (on the 10th and 11th) will resume. Indoor and outdoor municipal funeral facilities will operate normally, and four city bus routes passing through Manguri and Yongmiri 1 and 2 municipal cemeteries will increase service by 49 trips daily (on the 10th and 11th). From the 10th to the 11th, a total of 350 additional train trips will be operated over two days on Lines 1 to 9, the Uisinseol Line, and the Sillim Line, with trains arriving at terminal stations at 2 a.m. the next day.

City buses will adjust schedules on the 10th and 11th so that the last buses at train stations and terminal stops pass through the terminal direction at 2 a.m. the next day. This applies to five train stations including Seoul Station and four terminals including the Express Bus Terminal. No additional trips will be added compared to usual holidays; instead, schedules will be adjusted to extend the last bus service until the specified time.

Express and intercity buses departing from Seoul will operate an average of 4,217 trips daily, transporting 86,996 passengers (based on full capacity) over five days from the 8th to the 12th. Late-night owl buses will operate normally during the holiday period from 11:10 p.m. to 6 a.m. the next day, and late-night taxis will operate from 5 p.m. to 9 a.m. the next day. The bus-only lane on the Gyeongbu Expressway will be extended from 9 a.m. - 9 p.m. to 7 a.m. - 1 a.m. the next day.

Managing prices of essential goods... Supporting revitalization of traditional markets during the holiday

On the 29th, ahead of the Chuseok holiday, citizens are looking at hanbok at Gwangjang Market in Jongno-gu, Seoul. / Photo by Moon Honam munonam@

Through expanding the supply of essential goods, the city will manage holiday shopping basket prices and implement measures to revitalize local commercial districts such as traditional markets. Supply volumes of nine essential goods including apples, pears, onions, and green onions 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. The city will monitor price trends for 20 major agricultural, livestock, and marine products and recommend the government adjust supply volumes for items with rising prices.

For retail and large-scale stores, compliance with price labeling obligations such as sales price display will be inspected, and inappropriate practices such as collusion will be checked in personal service industries and distribution/sales sectors. Inspections will also be conducted for false origin labeling of major essential goods and for weight shortfalls and grade standardization.

Additionally, to support smooth use of traditional markets, parking and stopping on roads around some traditional markets (95 locations) will be permitted until the 12th, and Chuseok holiday events such as fruit discount promotions will be supported to revitalize traditional markets.

Normal operation of municipal funeral facilities... Free three meals daily at 38 homeless shelters

Indoor and outdoor municipal funeral facilities will also operate normally. Emergency medical institutions (67 locations) and hospitals, clinics, and pharmacies open during the holiday will maintain the emergency medical system during the Chuseok holiday. Garbage will be promptly collected before and after the holiday to maintain a pleasant urban environment, and the 120 Dasan Call Center will operate 24 hours to respond to citizens' inquiries.

Indoor and outdoor municipal funeral facilities will operate normally during the Chuseok holiday, and the online memorial system Cyber Memorial House will also be available. A memorial support situation room will be operated to assist visitors, and four city bus routes passing through Manguri and Yongmiri 1 and 2 municipal cemeteries will increase service by 49 trips daily. Medical measures for visitors will be activated to respond to emergencies during memorial visits.

Furthermore, to ensure vulnerable groups who are often neglected during holidays can have a warm holiday, condolence goods will be provided to 220,000 basic livelihood security households, and free three meals daily will be provided at 38 homeless shelters during the holiday. Free meals for about 27,000 children at risk of missing meals will continue uninterrupted during the holiday.

Meanwhile, Seoul continues to support damage caused by recent heavy rains and prevent additional damage by conducting pre-inspections of facilities in flood-prone areas and is conducting additional inspections in preparation for approaching typhoons. An emergency work system will be maintained during the holiday to prepare thoroughly for wind and flood disasters.

Jung Soo-yong, Director of Planning and Coordination at Seoul City, said, "To protect citizens' health and safety, we will focus administrative capabilities on preventing the spread of COVID-19 and strengthening quarantine measures 24 hours a day during the Chuseok holiday, preparing for disasters and accidents, stabilizing Chuseok prices that have surged due to typhoons and monsoons, and supporting marginalized neighbors so that everyone can have a warm holiday." He added, "We ask citizens to follow personal quarantine rules in daily life, such as hand washing and wearing masks, to have a safe and enjoyable Chuseok holiday."

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