30~40% Discount on KTX·SRT Train Tickets for Return Trips During Lunar New Year Holiday [Seol Holiday Measures]

Free Domestic Airport Parking for Multi-Child Families... Increased International Flights

The government will designate January 27, just before the Lunar New Year holiday, as a temporary public holiday to stimulate domestic consumption. During the holiday period, highway tolls will be waived to promote regional tourism and facilitate citizens' travel to and from their hometowns, and a 30-40% discount will be offered on KTX and SRT trains for return trips to hometowns.

On the 9th, the government held a National Affairs Ministers' Meeting and Economic Ministers' Meeting chaired by Acting Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance Choi Sang-mok, announcing the 'Lunar New Year Holiday Measures' including these details. Acting Prime Minister Choi said, "We will consider designating the 27th as a temporary public holiday after gathering public opinions to ensure sufficient rest time and promote domestic travel."

The government will designate a temporary public holiday between the weekend of the 25th-26th and the Lunar New Year holiday from the 28th to the 30th, allowing for six consecutive days off. Employees working Monday to Friday can take a day off on the 31st and enjoy a holiday lasting up to nine days until the following weekend. This reflects the worsening sentiment among economic agents amid prolonged domestic demand slump, the martial law and impeachment political situation, and the Jeju Air disaster. The designation of the temporary public holiday will be officially confirmed through the Cabinet meeting next week.

Yonhap News

During the Lunar New Year holiday, highway tolls will be waived, and a 30-40% discount will be provided on KTX and SRT trains for return trips to hometowns. A 50% discount will be offered for railway travel products in depopulated areas. Domestic airport parking fees will be fully waived for multi-child and disabled households. National heritage sites and art museums will be open free of charge, and entrance fees to national recreational forests and parking fees at national park-operated parking lots will also be waived.

International air routes will be increased by more than 130 flights, focusing on Asian routes such as Southeast Asia, Japan, and Taiwan, where demand for inbound tourism is high.

To expand sales for small business owners through tourism activation, 1 million accommodation coupons worth up to 30,000 KRW will be distributed from March targeting non-metropolitan areas. To foster a consumption atmosphere, monthly relay sale events will be held including Korea Grand Sale in January-February, Spring Regular Sale in March-April, and Donghaeng Festival in May. The number of regions operating digital tourism resident cards, which provide benefits such as accommodation and experiences during regional tourism, will be expanded to up to 45, and the service implementation period for expanded regions will be shortened by about two months to April compared to the previous year.

Consumption promotion events through online sales channels such as traditional markets and special online planning exhibitions for small business owners will be held. When purchasing traditional market products through online shopping malls, free shipping or prizes such as Onnuri gift certificates and points will be provided, and gift sets, clothing, and beauty products will be discounted by up to 20%. To facilitate the use of traditional markets, parking on surrounding roads will be permitted during the Lunar New Year holiday.

The four weeks before and after the Lunar New Year will be designated as a special management period for parcel delivery, with measures to support delivery and prevent overwork of workers. To prepare for the surge in parcel volume, additional temporary staff such as trunk drivers and delivery drivers will be deployed, and special management of safety and health measures for parcel workers will be conducted. From the 6th to the 10th, intensive hygiene inspections will be carried out on food manufacturers and sellers of ceremonial and gift foods in preparation for the Lunar New Year, and import food customs inspections will be strengthened.

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