Daegu Mayor Kwon Young-jin Announces Two-Track Special Measures for Quarantine and Traffic During Lunar New Year Holiday

Resolution of Major Traffic Congestion Sections, Free Opening of Public Parking Lots

Severe traffic congestion on the roads heading home and returning during the holiday season. Photo by Dongju Yoon doso7@

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Yeo Jong-gu] Daegu City has announced two comprehensive measures ahead of the Lunar New Year holiday: traffic measures and COVID-19 response.

Daegu City has established plans for smooth traffic flow and COVID-19 prevention from the 28th of this month to the 2nd of next month, spanning six days. The plan aims to simultaneously strengthen traffic and quarantine response systems to block infectious diseases while managing convenient travel for homecoming and returning journeys.

Quarantine personnel will be increased at multi-use transportation facilities such as stations, terminals, airports, and urban railways, where homecoming crowds gather. Additionally, safety inspections will be intensified, and a 24-hour special quarantine response system will be set up to prepare for emergencies.

Transportation means will undergo enhanced regular disinfection to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Wearing masks inside vehicles and prohibiting eating and drinking will be mandatory, and the number of operations will be increased to disperse demand.

Furthermore, Dongdaegu Station will separate the routes of general citizens and overseas arrivals, with overseas arrivals transported by quarantine taxis to preemptively block potential COVID-19 infection sources.

This year’s Lunar New Year holiday is one day longer than last year, and the demand for travel using trains, airplanes, express buses, and intercity buses is expected to increase to about 417,000 people, up from 313,000 last year.

Daily average travel is also expected to rise to about 69,000 people, compared to 62,000 last year. Overall traffic flow during the holiday period is anticipated to be smooth. During the Lunar New Year holiday, trains will operate 461 times daily, 15 more than usual.

Intercity buses will increase by 33 trips per day, and express buses by 58 trips per day, operating 554 and 390 times respectively. Flights will also increase by 2 trips per day, operating 38 times daily.

The traffic control center operating during the special traffic measures period will manage traffic conditions in real time and will flexibly adjust traffic signals in cooperation with the police in habitual congestion areas with severe traffic jams.

Additionally, real-time alternative routes will be provided to disperse traffic volume.

The city will also provide parking convenience. Eighty-six public parking lots will be opened from the 28th. A total of 638 public parking lots in districts and counties, as well as parking lots attached to public institutions, will be operated free of charge from the 29th to the 2nd of next month.

Daegu Mayor Kwon Young-jin said, “We will conduct more thorough quarantine measures on transportation facilities and vehicles as the COVID-19 situation continues, as well as ensure convenience for homecoming and outbound travelers.”