The government announced on the 9th that it will conduct on-site inspections of aircraft operations at major airports during the Lunar New Year holiday this year and will operate a joint special traffic countermeasure team comprised of the private sector, public sector, and military. To ensure there is no gap in medical services, it also decided to maintain the emergency medical system by operating a metropolitan emergency medical situation room.
On this day, the government presented the '2025 Lunar New Year Measures' during a government affairs-related ministerial meeting and economic ministers meeting chaired by Acting President Choi Sang-mok, who is also the Minister of Strategy and Finance.
According to the measures, the Ministry of Health and Welfare, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, and the National Fire Agency will each conduct pre-inspections regarding emergency medical systems, road, railway, and aviation safety measures, vessel and coastal passenger ship safety measures, and fire safety measures during the Lunar New Year. Additionally, a 24-hour emergency response system will be operated, focusing on the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters, in cooperation with related ministries and local governments.
To ensure traffic safety, the government will conduct special safety inspections based on disaster preparedness for each mode of transportation. First, this month, the road management offices will check areas at risk of landslides and rockfalls and repair and reinforce signage. In preparation for heavy snowfall and cold waves, de-icing agents will be secured, and de-icing personnel and equipment will also be deployed in advance.
From this day until the 23rd, joint inspections between the public and private sectors will be conducted targeting ferry docking, boarding, and landing facilities, among others. From the 14th to the 17th, special safety inspections will be conducted at major national railway stations (40 locations), vehicle maintenance units (three locations), and vehicle business offices (five locations). The government will also conduct free safety inspections for domestically manufactured vehicles during the Lunar New Year holiday.
From the 27th to the 31st, on-site checks of aircraft operations will occur at major airports including Incheon, Gimpo, Jeju, and Gimhae. From the 24th to the 2nd of next month, a joint special traffic countermeasure team will be organized and operated. Previously, from the 2nd to the 8th, the government inspected major airport facilities, including landing and takeoff facilities and aviation safety facilities.
Additionally, the government will maintain the emergency medical system during the Lunar New Year holiday. It will designate hospitals for transporting severely injured patients and operate a metropolitan emergency medical situation room to coordinate resources. By providing information on open hospitals and clinics and pharmacies, the government aims to ensure a seamless medical system. Information will be provided through the emergency medical portal, the Ministry of Health and Welfare website, the health and welfare consultation center, the 119 emergency situation management center, and the emergency medical information app.
Measures to prevent overwork among workers in anticipation of a surge in delivery volume will also be pursued. The period from the 13th to the 27th will be designated as a special management period for deliveries, during which temporary personnel such as trunk drivers and delivery drivers will be additionally deployed. Major delivery companies, including CJ, Coupang, Hanjin, Lotte, and 로젠, must report on the implementation of safety measures and the additional personnel deployed each week.
Efforts will be concentrated on preventing accidents such as cold waves, fires, and wildfires. Health guidelines to prepare for cold waves will be provided until the 27th of next month, and intensive inspections of vulnerable workplaces will be planned. Inspections of facilities vulnerable to cold waves, such as vessels, ports, and aquaculture facilities, will also be strengthened. Fire safety investigations and surprise inspections will be conducted in multi-use facilities such as traditional markets, large supermarkets, train stations, and terminals during the holiday period. A wildfire prevention headquarters will also be operated to prepare for wildfires. Access to areas at risk of wildfires will be restricted, and a mountain weather observation network will be operated at 495 locations.
Additionally, the government plans to focus on protecting the homeless, the elderly, and disabled individuals during the holiday period. The government will strengthen free meal support for the homeless and establish an emergency response system for homeless facilities and related local organizations.
For the 550,000 vulnerable elderly individuals using the customized care service, safety checks will be intensified during the winter season. The health status of residents with disabilities will be continuously monitored, and plans to maintain an emergency contact network between local governments and facilities, as well as a 24-hour staffing system, will be implemented.
A government official noted that the detailed safety management measures for the Lunar New Year holiday are expected to be announced in the third week of this month.