KTX Weekend Passengers Down 25%... Economy 'Saddened' by COVID-19 Spread

25% Decrease in Passengers Compared to Same Period Last Year
Impact of Sharp Decline in Travel and Outdoor Activities Due to COVID-19
Daegu, Busan, Gangneung Hit Hard by Economic Downturn

On the 6th, disinfection workers are sanitizing the interior of a KTX passenger car at the Seoul Metropolitan Area Vehicle Maintenance Unit in Deogyang-gu, Goyang, Gyeonggi-do. (Photo by Yonhap News)

[Asia Economy Reporter Moon Jiwon] As the number of confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) has surged sharply, the number of railway passengers has also rapidly decreased. This is interpreted as a spreading atmosphere of reducing outdoor activities, travel, and business trips due to the highly contagious nature of the disease. There are concerns that the halt in people's movement caused by the fear of COVID-19 will further worsen the local economy.

According to Korea Railroad Corporation (KORAIL) on the 21st, since the increase in confirmed COVID-19 cases began in earnest this month, weekend KTX ridership has sharply declined. Looking at the ridership on the busy days of Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, a total of about 1,812,400 people used the KTX over six days from the 7th to 9th and 14th to 16th.

This is a 25.3% decrease compared to the similar period last year, February 8-10 and 15-17, when about 2,426,600 people used the KTX. A KORAIL official explained, "Since February, the number of KTX passengers over the three weekend days has fallen below one million," adding, "Although thorough quarantine measures are underway, it seems that intercity travel has significantly decreased due to the spread of COVID-19."

Although detailed passenger counts have not yet been compiled, it is expected that KTX ridership over the three days including the weekend from the 21st to 23rd will decrease even more sharply. In fact, as of the morning of the 21st, one day before the weekend, a significant number of KTX and SRT tickets for the weekend of the 22nd and 23rd remained unsold. This is a different atmosphere from usual, when tickets were sold out two to three days before the weekend.

Major regional areas such as Busan, Daegu, and Gangneung are reportedly experiencing difficulties due to a sharp decline in tourists caused by COVID-19. Kang Seunghoon (31, pseudonym), a public official living in Daegu, said, "The number of people on the streets has noticeably decreased," adding, "As confirmed cases have increased mainly among Shincheonji Church members, everyone is being cautious."

Gangneung, which was visited by the Chinese couple confirmed as cases 12 and 14 on the KTX, has taken a direct hit to its economy. Stations, restaurants, and nearby traditional markets visited by confirmed patients have seen a significant drop in customers. Local governments, the central government, and public institutions are implementing policies such as strengthening quarantine measures, distributing masks, and encouraging the use of external restaurants to revitalize the economy, but with 53 confirmed cases nationwide reported in just one day, it is expected that economic downturn will be inevitable for the time being.