"Have a Safe Chuseok" — Police Launch Comprehensive Public Safety Plan

Customized Prevention for Households Not Returning Home

Strict Response Planned for Relationship-Based Crimes

The police are preparing for the Chuseok holiday, covering everything from traffic safety management for the homecoming journey to strengthening their response to relationship-related crimes.

Vehicles are seen traveling on the Gyeongbu Expressway near the Seoul Tollgate from a National Police Agency helicopter ahead of last year's Chuseok holiday. Photo by Yonhap News

The Korean National Police Agency announced on September 13 that it will implement a comprehensive public safety plan from September 17 to 27 to stabilize daily life and enhance the public’s sense of safety. This year, Chuseok will be held from September 24 to 27, and the police plan to respond with targeted measures in various areas, including ▲ customized prevention activities for households not traveling to their hometowns ▲ strict response to relationship-based crimes ▲ and traffic safety management for both outbound and return journeys during the holiday period.

Noting that this year’s Chuseok holiday period is shorter than in previous years, the police expect a sharp increase in demand for security services such as family and relative gatherings concentrated into a shorter timeframe. In particular, considering recent changes such as the growing number of single-person households choosing not to visit their hometowns during the holiday, the police plan to focus preventive activities on residential areas and key daily life zones.

The police also intend to respond proactively to relationship-based crimes, which can increase as contact between family members and couples rises during holidays. They will review the current status of domestic violence, child abuse, stalking, and dating violence in advance to prevent repeat offenses, respond strictly from the moment a report is filed, and work to ensure comprehensive protection for victims.

For at-risk households in need of assistance due to economic hardship or other difficulties, the police will facilitate connections with local governments to provide appropriate welfare support. In addition, they will intensify the prevention and crackdown on crimes that tend to rise around the holiday, such as robbery, theft, illegal private lending, voice phishing schemes disguised as delivery or family well-being checks, and other crimes affecting people’s livelihoods.

Furthermore, during the holiday, the position of the National Police Agency’s Situation Management Officer will be raised from Senior Superintendent to Chief Superintendent General, and the General Situation Room (Emergency 112) will oversee the management of law enforcement situations. Commanders at regional and local police stations will also personally inspect key sites to ensure police resources can be deployed quickly wherever needed, maintaining a strong state of readiness.

Meanwhile, Korea Expressway Corporation forecasts that the daily average traffic volume on expressways during this year’s Chuseok holiday will reach approximately 6.05 million vehicles—an 11.8% increase from the 5.41 million daily average during last year’s Chuseok period. The police plan to intensify staged traffic management on bottlenecks with heavy congestion, such as expressways, major national highways, traditional markets, bus terminals, and public cemeteries. They also plan to focus on violations such as drunk driving, reckless driving, and accidents caused by dense crowds.

A spokesperson for the National Police Agency stated, "We will monitor daily life even more closely to ensure that everyone can enjoy a peaceful holiday. We are committed to implementing visible public safety measures, not only for crime prevention but also for security that people can feel in their everyday lives."

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