"Don't Worry About Your Lunar New Year Trip Home": Gyeonggi-do Adds Intercity Buses and Extends Rail Services

Gyeonggi-do to Implement Special Lunar New Year Traffic Measures from February 13
Subway Service Extended Until 1:00 a.m. and Real-Time Bypass Route Guidance
Flexible Operation of Intercity Bus Routes and Encouraged Taxi Operations

To ensure a safe and convenient trip home for the Lunar New Year, Gyeonggi-do has designated the six-day period from February 13 to 18 as the "2026 Lunar New Year Holiday Special Traffic Countermeasure Period" and will respond proactively with measures such as increasing intercity bus services, providing real-time road information, and establishing an emergency road restoration system.

This plan consists of five key tasks: expanding public transportation capacity, dispersing traffic volume, enhancing travel convenience, strengthening traffic safety management, and implementing response measures in the event of heavy snowfall.

Lunar New Year holiday special traffic measures infographic. Provided by Gyeonggi Province

129 Additional Intercity Bus Services... Late-Night Extension for Rail and City Buses

The province will significantly reinforce intercity bus capacity in anticipation of a sharp increase in travelers during the holiday. It will add 82 buses on 38 routes across 4 regions, increasing the total number of trips by 129. City buses and village buses will be operated flexibly, including extending the last bus departure by one hour depending on the situation in each city and county, and the province also plans to encourage taxi operations at major hubs such as terminals.

In particular, Gyeonggi-do will provide late-night rail service on the Uijeongbu Light Rail, Line 7 (Bucheon section), Hanam Line, and Byeollae Line, which are under the province's jurisdiction. From February 17, the day of Lunar New Year, to February 18, these lines will run extended hours until 1:00 a.m. the following day to assist residents returning home late at night.

Real-Time Bypass Route Guidance and Traffic Information

For sections of major expressways and national highways that are prone to recurring congestion, information on bypass routes and ramp access control will be provided in real time via 36 Variable Message Signs (VMS) to help disperse traffic volume. On five major expressways, including the Gyeongbu, Yeongdong, and Seohaean Expressways, bypass routes along 13 nearby sections, such as Local Road No. 311, will be guided in the event of congestion. For nine national highways, including National Routes 1, 3, and 39, bypass routes along 14 nearby sections, such as Local Road No. 309, will be provided.

To enhance travel convenience for residents, bus and road information will be provided in real time. Operating information for city, intercity, and village buses within the province will be offered through the Gyeonggi Bus Information System mobile app (Gyeonggi Bus Information), its website, and the ARS phone system.

Information on congestion status on major roads in the province, fastest route guidance, and unexpected situations (such as traffic accidents and controlled areas) will be provided via the Gyeonggi Transport Information Center website, its mobile web service (Gyeonggi Transport Information), and traffic information hotlines.

Road Facility Inspections and Emergency System for Heavy Snowfall

Thorough advance preparations are also being made to ensure traffic safety. The province has completed road surface maintenance and removal of debris on local roads and bridges in 15 cities and counties, and will operate emergency repair teams on standby throughout the holiday to respond to any road damage. In addition, to prepare for sudden heavy snowfall in winter, an emergency communication network between the province and cities/counties will be activated, and information on bus detours during heavy snow will be disseminated in real time to minimize traffic disruption.

In the event of heavy snowfall, the province will quickly identify bus detours and other operating conditions through its communication network with cities and counties, and will provide real-time operating information via the Gyeonggi Bus Information app and other channels. It also plans to monitor various CCTV feeds to detect unexpected traffic incidents and provide traffic information via the Gyeonggi-do Traffic Information Center website and other platforms, thereby enhancing traffic safety for residents.

Yoon Taewan, Director General of the Gyeonggi-do Transportation Bureau, said, "We will do our utmost to implement traffic measures so that residents returning to their hometowns during the Lunar New Year holiday can spend the holiday safely," and urged, "Please actively cooperate by driving safely and complying with traffic laws so that we can have an accident-free and safe holiday."

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