Gov't unveils measures to make life easier this Lunar New Year

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport on Thursday rolled out multiple measures to alleviate traffic congestion during the Lunar New Year holiday, also known as Seollal.

A family heads to a train bound for Busan from the platform of Seoul Station in downtown Seoul on Thursday, a day ahead of the four-day Lunar New Year holiday, also known as Seollal. [JANG JIN-YOUNG]

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport on Thursday rolled out multiple measures to alleviate traffic congestion during the Lunar New Year holiday, also known as Seollal. The four-day Lunar New Year holiday in Korea this year begins on Friday.

A total of 71 breakdown lanes will be opened for drivers, while those driving on 134 highways and roads expected to be congested will be offered information on alternative routes during the holiday period.

Bus, train and airplane operations will increase by 11 percent during the holiday, while expressway tolls will be alleviated over the four days.

Around 5.7 million people are expected to travel daily from Thursday through Monday, according to the Korean Transport Institute (KOTI).

Over 6 million people are anticipated to travel on Saturday.

Land Minister Park Sang-woo on Thursday encouraged related authorities to do their best to prevent accidents and promptly respond to urgent situations as traffic accidents occur more during the national holiday due to drowsy and negligent driving.

Travelers head to their KTX trains from the platform of Songjeong Station in Gwangju on Thursday, a day ahead of the four-day Lunar New Year holiday, also known as Seollal. [NEWS1]

Tourist spots in Korea are also expected to be crowded during the holiday. According to the KOTI, nearly 20 percent of 10,120 households surveyed said they would travel during the Seollal holiday this year.

Around 92 percent of those planning to travel said they would travel domestically.

The Jeju Tourism Association expects that around 195,000 travelers will visit Jeju Island during the upcoming holiday, of which 178,000 are Korean nationals.

Last year, some 158,000 tourists visited Jeju during the same period.

This year's high number of tourists to Jeju is mainly due to milder weather conditions than last year.

Thousands of people were stranded in Jeju, and many had to cancel their trips on last year’s Lunar New Year. Inbound and outbound flights were canceled due to strong winds and heavy snow.

Some rain or snow may fall on Jeju on Sunday. However, the Jeju Regional Office of Meteorology said the weather conditions would not affect the commuters much.

Meanwhile, around 2,500 hospitals and pharmacies will open during the Lunar New Year holiday this year in Seoul.

According to the Seoul Metropolitan Government on Thursday, 916 hospitals and 1,619 pharmacies will operate during the holiday, offering emergency medical services.

A total of 66 emergency medical centers and emergency rooms will be open all night as usual during the period.

Twenty emergency rooms and hospitals for child patients will operate in case there are no spots in general emergency rooms.

The city government advised residents to visit the hospitals and pharmacies during the holiday after checking their service hours.

The city government’s website provides comprehensive information on the Lunar New Year holiday, including details on open hospitals and pharmacies. Alternatively, residents can dial 120, the Dasan Call Center, which also offers English service.

On Thursday, President Yoon Suk Yeol offered warm Lunar New Year greetings to the public in a video where he sang singer Byun Jin-sup's song "We Need Our Love" with his staff and their children.

"It's the Seollal holiday that we need love," Yoon said. "The Presidential Office's staff and I will all look after everyone's lives with love this year. Stay healthy and happy this Lunar New Year."

BY CHO JUNG-WOO [cho.jungwoo1@joongang.co.kr]