Seoul City to Operate Screening Clinics in Districts Before Chuseok Holiday... Extended Transportation Services

Officials are sorting Chuseok parcel mail at the Dong Seoul Postal Logistics Center in Gwangjin-gu, Seoul. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporter Song Seung-seop] COVID-19 screening clinics will be operated in all autonomous districts of Seoul during the Chuseok holiday period. On October 10-11, the operating hours of Seoul subway and city buses will also be extended.

Seoul City announced on the 4th that it will implement the "Chuseok Comprehensive Measures" from the 7th to the 13th. According to the measures, subway lines 1 to 9, the Uisinseol Line, and the Sillim Line will operate an additional 350 trips over two days on October 10-11. The last train time will be extended from 1 a.m. to 2 a.m. the next day at terminal stations. For city buses, the last bus time will be delayed to 2 a.m. the next day at nine major train stations and terminals, including Seoul Station and the Express Bus Terminal.

Express and intercity buses departing from Seoul plan to operate an average of 4,217 trips daily from October 8 to 12. This will transport approximately 31,000 (55.3%) more passengers than usual, totaling 86,996 passengers (based on full capacity). The bus-only lane on the Gyeongbu Expressway will be extended from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. to 7 a.m. until 1 a.m. the next day.

The COVID-19 response system will also be activated during the holiday period. At least one screening clinic or temporary screening site will be open in each autonomous district. A total of 1,001 dedicated COVID-19 treatment beds will be operated. Emergency medical institutions (50 locations) and emergency medical centers (17 locations) for emergency patients will operate 24 hours a day.

Additionally, Seoul City will distribute 130,000 rapid antigen test kits and operate about 170 one-stop medical institutions on the first day of the holiday when testing demand is high. This will increase to 296 locations on the last day. On Chuseok day, it plans to guide each district to operate an average of three or more locations. Pharmacies responsible for dispensing COVID-19 treatments will also operate an average of three or more per district.

Measures for vulnerable groups have also been prepared. Seoul City will provide consolation funds of 30,000 KRW per household to about 220,000 basic livelihood security households and 10,000 KRW consolation funds to 1,176 elderly residents in facilities and 2,052 disabled residents in residential facilities. From October 9 to 12, 38 homeless shelters will provide three free meals a day. Free meals for about 27,000 children at risk of food insecurity will continue regardless of the holiday.

From 6 p.m. on October 8 to 9 a.m. on October 13, Seoul City will set up a comprehensive situation room on the first floor of City Hall to respond 24 hours to emergencies and civil complaints. Related measures will be announced through the Seoul City website's "2022 Chuseok Special Page" and the 120 Dasan Call Center.

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