Public transport hours extended for Chuseok

Seoul city government will extend the operation hours of subways and buses to accommodate passengers during the Chuseok holidays.

Buses passing through major train stations, including Seoul, Cheongnyangni, Yeongdeungpo, Yongsan and Suseo stations will run until 2 a.m. on Sept. 13 and 14, the city government announced in a statement on Monday, while all subway hours will be extended until 2 a.m. on Sept. 13 and 14. The Korean harvest holiday will be from Sept. 12 to Sept. 14 this year with Chuseok day falling on the 13.

The city government will also be running more Owl Buses - buses that run from 11:40 p.m. to 3:45 a.m. on nine routes found to be frequently used by late-night workers - during the holidays as well as provide more late-night cabs that will run from 9 p.m. to 9 a.m. on Sept. 13 and 14, according to the city government.

The city government also outlined additional policies for elderly citizens and the vulnerable population during the holidays.

“We will be checking on 29,600 elderly citizens living by themselves before and during the holidays,” the city government said in its statement.

“For the 1,485 elderly citizens currently staying at nursing homes throughout the city, we will be delivering a gift of 10,000 won [$8.26] to each of them. We will also be delivering the same gift to each of the 2,493 people with disabilities who are staying at various facilities throughout the city.”

The city government will also be checking on fire and hazard safety at 429 nursing homes and 358 traditional markets throughout the city before the holidays. A total of 480 clinics and emergency hospitals and 1,164 pharmacies will be open in Seoul during the holidays. To locate the closest open clinic or hospital, dial 120; however, the call center advises ringing in advance of the holidays if you require a foreign language operator.

BY ESTHER CHUNG [chung.juhee@joongang.co.kr]