The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport will designate the 11 days from Oct. 2 to Oct. 12 as a special transportation countermeasure period for the Chuseok holiday this year and will support homebound and return travel. Although the longer holiday is expected to increase the number of travelers compared with last year, the average daily travel volume is forecast to decline somewhat due to dispersion effects.
According to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport on the 29th, the total number of travelers during this year's Chuseok period is projected at 32.18 million, up 8.2% from last year's 29.73 million. However, the average daily travel volume is expected to fall 2.0% year over year to 7.75 million. Passenger cars are forecast to account for 84.5% of travel.
Average daily traffic on expressways is expected to be 5.42 million vehicles, down 2.4% from last year. However, on Chuseok day, with homebound and return travelers and grave visitors converging, traffic is expected to reach as many as 6.67 million vehicles, up 2.3% from last year's 6.52 million. The ministry projected that congestion for outbound trips will peak on Oct. 5 and for return trips on Oct. 6.
The ministry has prepared measures centered on traffic flow and safety and expanding public transportation. Expressway tolls will be waived for four days around Chuseok (Oct. 4–7). Discounted reverse-direction fares on KTX and SRT, early opening of departure halls at Incheon International Airport, and securing temporary parking lots at passenger ship terminals will also be implemented.
Public transportation will increase bus and rail operations by 15.2% (36,687 runs) from normal levels, and seat supply will be expanded by 11.9% (2.08 million seats). Additional drowsy driving rest areas and service areas will be operated, and to assist transportation-vulnerable people, automatic rail ticket vending machines will be piloted at Seoul Station.
Traffic safety measures will also be strengthened. Twelve sections of national highways will newly open, and the exclusive bus lane on the Gyeongbu Line between Yangjae and Sintanjin will operate four hours longer than usual. Using AI, 30 high-risk traffic accident zones will be managed, and a system that detects seat belt use will be piloted. Highway patrol footage will be analyzed with artificial intelligence, and vehicles violating regulations, such as designated lane violations, will be subject to public reporting.
To prepare for deteriorating weather such as heavy rain, vulnerable facilities will be monitored in real time, and emergency response systems such as reduced train speeds or rerouting airways will be established.
Together with related agencies such as the Ministry of Environment and the Korean National Police Agency, the ministry will run a traffic safety campaign for four days before Chuseok at 21 major expressway service areas nationwide. Promotional activities linked with broadcasters under the theme "No accidents today as well" will also be conducted.
Um Jeong-hee, director general for transport and logistics at the ministry, said, "To ensure a safe and convenient trip home and back, please comply with traffic laws and be sure to check traffic information before departure and while on the move."