Traffic Accidents Decrease by Over 50% During Lunar New Year Holiday... 'Peaceful Holiday'

112 Reports Increased by 19.5% Compared to Last Year
Considering Daily Life Recovery in the Endemic Era
"Relatively Stable Public Safety Maintained"

[Asia Economy Reporter Seongpil Jo] This Lunar New Year holiday period was generally peaceful without major incidents or accidents.

The National Police Agency announced on the 6th that, as a result of comprehensive security activities conducted from the 11th of this month for the Lunar New Year holiday, traffic accidents decreased by 56.7% compared to last year, and traffic accident fatalities also dropped by 31.3%. Although the daily average of 112 emergency calls increased by 19.5% compared to last year, the police analyzed that relatively stable public safety was maintained considering the increased security demand due to the return to normal life in the endemic era during this Lunar New Year holiday.

On the 20th, one day before the Lunar New Year holiday, travelers including those returning home are moving to board trains at Seoul Station. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

The police evaluated that despite a significant increase in traffic volume compared to last year during this holiday period, the sharp reduction in accidents and fatalities was the result of proactively concentrating available personnel and equipment. In particular, to prevent drunk driving accidents, continuous crackdowns were conducted mainly around restaurant districts, resulting in 71 drunk driving accidents, a 53.9% decrease compared to 154 cases last year, the police added. It was also reported that there were no fatalities from drunk driving accidents.

There were no chain collision accidents caused by icy roads nor tunnel accidents on highways. The police analyzed this as a result of strengthened safety patrols at ice-prone locations and pre-inspections of safety facilities inside tunnels. Due to these enhanced patrols, the daily average number of traffic accident fatalities decreased from 16 last year to 11, and injuries dropped from 2,301 to 859, representing decreases of 31.3% and 62.7%, respectively.

Reports of domestic violence and child abuse increased by 13.1% and 9.8% daily averages, respectively, compared to last year’s Lunar New Year holiday. The police explained, "This reflects a high level of social interest, as even minor suspicious cases are actively reported by those around."

Regarding voice phishing crimes targeting the holiday season, there were 542 cases, a 31.4% decrease compared to 790 cases during the same period last year (the 10 days immediately before the holiday). Additionally, 2,367 cases of malicious violence such as drunken violence were cracked down on, resulting in 23 arrests, the police added. A National Police Agency official stated, "We will continue to maintain the peaceful security tone of the Lunar New Year holiday and secure stable public safety going forward."

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