24-Hour Emergency Medical Services, Extended Last Train... Seoul Implements Comprehensive Safety Plan for Short Holiday

'2026 Chuseok Comprehensive Plan' in Action from September 23 to 28

15 Initiatives for Safety, Livelihood, and Everyday Convenience

24-Hour Emergency Medical Services at 74 Locations, Holiday Food Safety Checks

Meal Support, Care, and Assistance for Vulnerable Groups Continue Throughout the Holiday

The Seoul Metropolitan Government announced on September 13 that it will implement the "2026 Chuseok Comprehensive Plan" to ensure that citizens can spend the holiday safely and comfortably.

The measures, to be carried out from September 23 to 28, are organized into three primary sectors—public safety, livelihood stability, and everyday convenience—and consist of 15 specific initiatives. The Chuseok Comprehensive Situation Room will be operated on the first floor of Seoul City Hall to oversee five areas (firefighting, weather disasters, transportation, medical care, and prices), enabling comprehensive management and prompt response to emergencies.

First, to maintain a seamless emergency medical care system during the holiday, 51 emergency medical institutions and 23 hospitals with emergency rooms in the city will continue to operate 24 hours a day as usual. In particular, to respond swiftly to pediatric emergencies, eight "Our Child Safe Hospitals" (quasi-emergency) and three "Our Child Specialized Emergency Centers" (severe/emergency) will also be designated and operated.

The emergency medical institutions include 31 regional emergency medical centers such as Seoul Medical Center, and 20 local emergency medical institutions such as Seoul Metropolitan Dongbu Hospital. In addition, 23 hospitals with emergency rooms, outside of the emergency medical institutions, will remain on standby at all times to respond immediately to critical situations.

During the holiday, the cumulative total of hospitals, clinics, and pharmacies operating over the four days is expected to reach about 6,036 locations, averaging 1,509 per day (613 hospitals/clinics and 896 pharmacies). Information about emergency rooms, hospitals, and pharmacies open during the holiday can be conveniently checked via the city's website, mobile app, or phone.

Food safety for holiday meals will also be closely monitored. To allow citizens to prepare memorial and holiday dishes with confidence, the sanitary conditions of 1,150 businesses and restaurants producing and selling holiday foods such as rice cakes and traditional snacks were inspected by September 4. Compliance with country-of-origin labeling was also checked at over 4,000 traditional markets and small- to medium-sized supermarkets. Any substandard food found was immediately seized and discarded to prevent circulation, and violators will face strict administrative action and possible criminal charges.

Multi-use facilities that are expected to see a surge in visitors over the holiday will be pre-inspected. Fire safety and gas facility checks will be conducted at 1,204 locations, including traditional markets and retail facilities. Any deficiencies discovered during inspections must be rectified before the holiday to prevent fires and safety accidents.

Major infrastructure and public facilities with high citizen usage—including roads, transport facilities, traditional markets, and parks—will also undergo safety inspections before the holiday. Checks on 630 road facilities such as bridges and tunnels were completed last month, and inspections of 1,712 roadside slopes and 902 kilometers of city and local roads are also planned.

Seoul will continue to provide support for vulnerable groups who are easily overlooked during the holiday, ensuring they can also enjoy a warm Chuseok. For about 250,000 basic livelihood security households receiving living or medical assistance, 30,000 won in Chuseok gifts will be provided per household. Additionally, 774 seniors in nursing facilities and 1,806 residents with disabilities in care facilities will each receive a 10,000 won gift or monetary support.

The city will carefully check on seniors needing care and households at risk of solitary death. Around 42,000 seniors requiring care and 73,000 households categorized as at risk of solitary death will receive wellness check calls. Furthermore, to accommodate the expected surge of returning travelers, the city will extend the last train and bus services on September 26 and 27, the two days following Chuseok. Nighttime N buses will also operate as usual throughout the Chuseok holiday.

Kang Kyunghoon, Acting Director of Policy Planning for Seoul, stated, "This year, the Chuseok holiday is shorter, so travel and visits are expected to be concentrated. We will ensure thorough management of emergency medical care, transportation, and safety, and provide meticulous attention to the meals and well-being of vulnerable citizens, so that everyone can have a safe and warm holiday."

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