Gyeonggi-do Prepares Comprehensive Lunar New Year Plan... Focus on 'Safety, Prices, Welfare, and Transportation'

Gyeonggi-do Comprehensive Measures for Lunar New Year Graphic provided by Gyeonggi Provincial Government

[Asia Economy (Suwon) = Reporter Lee Young-gyu] Gyeonggi Province will conduct joint inspections targeting multi-use facilities such as large shopping malls, where many people gather, ahead of the Lunar New Year holiday (January 22). Additionally, a 'Price Stabilization Task Force' will be activated to manage soaring prices. Furthermore, a 24-hour emergency medical system will be established during the holiday period, and a 'Lunar New Year Holiday Comprehensive Situation Room' utilizing the 120 Gyeonggi Province Call Center (031-120) will also be operated.

First, to ensure safety management of multi-use buildings such as large shopping malls and terminals crowded during the holiday period, the province, safety management advisory group, city and county offices, and electric and gas safety corporations will conduct joint inspections at 11 locations across 10 cities and counties.

In addition, 29 shopping districts within the province, where small business owners are concentrated and safety is relatively vulnerable, will be selected for safety inspections of sales facilities by January 20. Through these safety inspections, the province will check for preventive measures against electrical and gas-related accidents and secure fire truck access routes.

During this period, all fire stations in the province will enter special alert duty. Moreover, to prepare for national disasters during the Lunar New Year holiday, the Civil Defense Alarm Control Center will be operated.

From January 21 to 24, the province will operate a gas and electricity safety management task force to provide rapid initial response and rescue activities in case of gas or power outage accidents. Additionally, a special wildfire prevention headquarters will be organized to patrol wildfire-prone areas and respond to emergencies. The province will also operate a 'Safety Prevention Hotline (010-3990-7722)' during the holiday period.

To alleviate the burden on vulnerable groups due to soaring prices, the province will also operate the Price Stabilization Task Force. The task force will be responsible for checking compliance with price labeling regulations and monitoring food safety.

The province will establish an emergency medical system during the holiday period to maintain a continuous medical service system so that residents can seek care anytime in case of emergency patients. Furthermore, to prevent the spread of COVID-19 during the winter season, a 'COVID-19 Lunar New Year Special Response Team' will be activated. The response team will promptly respond to the spread of COVID-19 through a cooperative system with private response agencies and related organizations. To this end, from January 21 to 24, 80 to 99 screening clinics and temporary screening sites will be operated.

The province has also prepared and is implementing safety management measures for homeless facilities, providing holiday meals and health checks for homeless people who are in welfare blind spots. The 'Emergency Welfare Hotline (010-4419-7722)' is also operated, allowing residents experiencing financial difficulties to receive emergency counseling, welfare support linkage, and follow-up management with just one phone call. The Wage Arrears Reporting Center (031-8030-4541) is also in operation.

The province operates the 'Lunar New Year Holiday Comprehensive Situation Room' utilizing the 120 Gyeonggi Province Call Center (031-120). Along with this, it oversees traffic situation operations and provides residents with road conditions and bus information. Traffic information can be checked immediately by contacting the Gyeonggi Province Traffic Information Center (1688-9090).

Yoo Tae-il, Director of the Provincial Autonomous Administration Bureau, said, "Due to the October 29 disaster, there is great anxiety about the social safety net, and with high prices, it is difficult to spend the holiday with peace of mind. We have prepared this comprehensive plan so that residents can spend the Lunar New Year holiday comfortably within a strengthened safety net that covers not only safety but also prices and livelihoods."