'Chuseok Holiday' Seoul Public Transportation Last Trains Extended on 10-11th... Seoul City Implements 'Special Transportation Measures'

Seoul Subway and Buses Passing Terminals and Train Stations Extended Until 2 AM Next Day
Increased Buses Passing City Cemeteries, Extended Operation of Gyeongbu Expressway Bus-Only Lanes to Enhance Public Transport Convenience
Strengthened Public Transport Quarantine, Focused Safety Management of Facilities in Terminals and Major Subway Stations

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] To ensure that both returning home and returning visitors can spend the Chuseok holiday safely and comfortably, Seoul City is implementing a "Special Traffic Measures for the Chuseok Holiday," marking the traditional Korean holiday.

On the 6th, Seoul City announced plans to actively support faster and more convenient travel for passengers using public transportation by extending the last train times for late-night subways and buses operating at train stations and terminals beyond usual hours. City buses passing through municipal cemeteries will increase their frequency, and the operation hours of bus-only lanes on the Gyeongbu Expressway will be extended in preparation for increased express and intercity bus services.

First, Seoul subways, which normally end service at midnight on holidays, will be extended until 2 a.m. the next day on Chuseok day (the 10th) and the following day (the 11th), when returning passengers are concentrated. Subway lines 1 through 9, the Uisinseol Line, and the Sillim Line will operate extended services until 2 a.m. the next day based on the arrival time at the terminal stations. Since the boarding times vary depending on the station and destination, it is advisable to check the information boards or announcements inside the stations in advance.

City buses will also operate until 2 a.m. The 130 routes passing through five train stations (Seoul Station, Yongsan Station, Yeongdeungpo Station, Cheongnyangni Station, Suseo Station) and four bus terminals (Seoul Express Bus Terminal, Central City, Dong Seoul, Nambu, and Sangbong Terminal) are included. The last buses departing from stops in front of major train stations and express/intercity bus terminals toward their final destinations will leave at 2 a.m. the next day. For routes like number 3420, which pass through two or more stations or terminals, the last stop served is the reference point.

Additionally, 14 owl bus routes and late-night exclusive taxis will operate normally throughout the holiday period to support public transportation access even during late-night arrivals in Seoul. The owl buses operate on 14 routes from 11:10 p.m. to 6 a.m. the next day. Late-night taxis operate normally from 5 p.m. to 9 a.m. the following day.

Increased Bus Frequency Passing Municipal Cemeteries and Extended Operation of Bus-Only Lanes

For visitors to municipal cemeteries using public transportation, the number of trips on four city bus routes passing through Yongmiri (route 774) and Manguri (routes 201, 262, 270) municipal cemeteries will increase by a total of 49 trips per day on the 10th and 11th.

To facilitate fast and safe travel for passengers using express and intercity buses, the operation hours of the bus-only lane on the Gyeongbu Expressway (from Hannam IC to Sintanjin IC) will be extended from the usual 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. to 7 a.m. until 1 a.m. the next day. Express and intercity buses departing from five bus terminals in Seoul will increase their daily trips by an average of 927 from the 8th to the 12th, the day before and during the Chuseok holiday, with the daily passenger capacity expected to rise by 31,000 to a total of 87,000.

During the same period from the 8th to the 12th, the bus-only lane on the Gyeongbu Expressway will operate extended hours, with the last day of extended operation on the 12th running until 1 a.m. on the 13th. After 1 a.m. on the 13th, the operation hours will revert to the usual schedule ending at 9 p.m. According to the Road Traffic Act, vehicles allowed to use the expressway bus-only lanes are passenger cars and vans with nine or more seats, and vehicles with 9 to 12 seats must have at least six passengers to use the lane.

Focused Enforcement Against Illegal Parking, Refusal of Rides, and Strengthened Safety Inspections During the Holiday

During the holiday, vehicles causing road congestion by illegal parking or stopping near train stations and terminals, or illegally parking in no-parking zones such as intersections, fire facilities, and child and elderly protection zones, will be subject to focused enforcement. Additionally, during the holiday period, late-night taxis refusing rides, charging unfair fares, soliciting passengers, or engaging in other illegal activities near train stations and bus terminals will also be targeted for enforcement.

Since mid-August, Seoul City has rechecked disinfection and quarantine systems at heavily used transportation facilities such as subways, buses, public bicycles, and logistics facilities, and has replaced and repaired facilities that require maintenance due to damage or aging.

During the holiday, to ensure safe public transportation use, disinfection frequency will increase for facilities with high passenger contact inside subway stations, such as convenience facilities, handrails, and seats. Passengers not wearing masks will be subject to strict enforcement. Citizens using public transportation must wear masks mandatorily; those not wearing masks will face intensified enforcement, and refusal to comply may result in police reports and active measures.

Information on special traffic measures for the Chuseok holiday, including last train times for public transportation, can be found on the Seoul Transportation Information Center TOPIS website and the "Seoul Transportation Portal" app. For inquiries, call the 120 Dasan Call Center. Baek Ho, Director of Seoul City Urban Transportation Office, said, "As this is the first holiday without social distancing, we will do our best to support public transportation for citizens traveling home or visiting graves," and added, "We ask citizens to actively practice personal quarantine measures such as wearing masks."

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