Seoul City Extends Last Public Transportation Services on 22nd and 23rd

Implementation of Special Traffic Measures for Seol Holiday

[Asia Economy Reporter Kiho Sung] The Seoul Metropolitan Government announced on the 17th that it will implement a ‘Special Traffic Measures for the Lunar New Year Holiday’ to ensure that both returning and departing holiday travelers can spend the holiday safely and comfortably.

First, the last train times for late-night subways and buses operating at train stations and terminals will be extended beyond usual hours to actively support travelers using public transportation to move more quickly and conveniently. Additionally, the number of city buses passing through municipal cemeteries will be increased, and the operating hours of the bus-only lanes on the Gyeongbu Expressway will be extended in preparation for increased operation of express and intercity buses.

Last train times for subways and buses extended on the 22nd and 23rd, Owl buses operate normally

Seoul subways usually end operation at midnight on holidays, but on Lunar New Year’s Day (22nd) and the following day (23rd), when returning travelers are concentrated, the last train times will be extended until 2 a.m. the next day.

Lines 1 to 9, the Uisinseol Line, and the Sillim Line will operate until 2 a.m. the next day based on the arrival time at the terminal stations. Since the boarding times vary depending on the station and destination, it is recommended to check the information boards or announcements inside the stations in advance.

On the same days, city buses will also operate until 2 a.m. This applies to 124 routes passing through five train stations (Seoul Station, Yongsan Station, Yeongdeungpo Station, Cheongnyangni Station, Suseo Station) and three bus terminals (Seoul Express Bus Terminal/Central City, Dong Seoul, Nambu Terminal).

The last buses departing from stops in front of major train stations and express/intercity bus terminals toward their final destinations will leave those stops at 2 a.m. the next day. For routes like number 3420 that pass through two or more stations or terminals, the last stop served is the reference point.

Additionally, the owl city buses (14 routes) that normally operate from 11:10 p.m. to 6 a.m. will run normally throughout the Lunar New Year holiday period to assist citizens traveling in Seoul during late-night hours.

Increased bus service passing municipal cemeteries, extended operation of bus-only lanes

To accommodate visitors to municipal cemeteries using public transportation, the number of trips on four city bus routes passing through Yongmiri (Route 774) and Manguri (Routes 201, 262, 270) municipal cemeteries will increase by a total of 49 trips per day on the 22nd and 23rd.

To support fast and safe travel for returning and departing travelers using express and intercity buses, the operating hours of the bus-only lanes on the Gyeongbu Expressway (from Hannam IC to Sintanjin IC) will be extended from the usual 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. to 7 a.m. until 1 a.m. the next day.

The extended operation period runs from the day before the Lunar New Year holiday, the 20th, through the 24th. On the last day of extended operation, the 24th, the lanes will operate until 1 a.m. on the 25th, after which normal operating hours until 9 p.m. will resume.

According to the Road Traffic Act, vehicles allowed to use the expressway bus-only lanes are passenger cars or vans with nine or more seats, and vehicles with 9 to 12 seats may use the lanes only if carrying six or more passengers. Violations will be penalized cumulatively based on the number of offenses, and the section from the south end of Hannam Bridge to the Seoul tollgate is also subject to enforcement, so caution is advised when using these lanes.

Information on operating hours is being provided in advance on expressway variable message signs (VMS) starting from the 16th, and information boards have been installed at five major expressway entrances.

Intensive enforcement against illegal parking, refusal of rides, and strengthened safety accident inspections during the holiday

During the holiday period, vehicles causing road congestion by illegally parking or stopping near train stations and terminals, or illegally parking in no-parking zones such as intersections, fire facilities, and child/elderly protection zones, will be subject to intensive enforcement.

Additionally, during the holiday period, taxis refusing rides, charging unfair fares, soliciting passengers, or engaging in other illegal activities near train stations and bus terminals during late-night hours will also be strictly monitored and enforced.

Information on special traffic measures for the Lunar New Year holiday, including last train times for public transportation, can be found on the Seoul Transportation Information Center’s TOPIS website and the ‘Seoul Transportation Portal’ app. For inquiries, call the 120 Dasan Call Center (dial 120 without area code).

Yoon Jong-jang, Director of the Seoul Metropolitan Government’s Urban Transportation Office, said, “We will do our best to support public transportation to ensure that citizens traveling for the Lunar New Year holiday experience no traffic inconvenience,” and added, “We also ask citizens to wear masks when using public transportation.”