Ensuring a Safe Seollal Holiday... Government and Local Authorities Intensify Safety Management

January 24 to February 2 Designated as "Safety Management Measures Period"
24-Hour Situation Monitoring and Coordination Meetings with Local Governments
National Fire Agency Implements "Special Alert Duty" at Fire Stations Nationwide

The government and local governments are making every effort to ensure safety management during the Lunar New Year holiday period. They are operating a 24-hour situation room and have prepared preventive measures and countermeasures in various fields such as cold waves, emergencies, heavy snow, and fires.

The Ministry of the Interior and Safety announced on the 15th that it has designated the period from the 24th to February 2nd as the Lunar New Year holiday safety management period and will promote the "Lunar New Year Holiday Safety Management Measures" with central government ministries and 17 cities and provinces. On the 10th, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety reviewed sector-specific measures and finalized the plans through the "53rd National Issues Ministerial Meeting and Economic Ministers' Meeting," chaired by Prime Minister and Acting President Choi Sang-mok, who is also the Minister of Economy and Finance.

A gift fruit box is displayed at Gwangjang Market in Jongno-gu, Seoul, on February 7 last year, ahead of the major national holiday, Seollal.

First, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety will strengthen the disaster and safety accident preparedness system. The Central Disaster and Safety Situation Room and related agencies will conduct continuous situation management, monitoring the situation 24 hours a day. Local government situation room heads will be designated in advance, and daily situation review meetings between the Ministry and local governments will be held to thoroughly manage disasters and accidents occurring nationwide.

Safety inspections will be conducted to identify and address risk factors in emergency medical facilities at traditional markets, elevators in stations, and local festivals, where visitor numbers are expected to increase. In particular, if heavy snow or cold waves are anticipated, the government plans to proactively activate the emergency response system.

Led by the National Fire Agency, fire safety management measures have also been established for the holiday period. During the period, fire stations nationwide will conduct special alert duty to maintain emergency response readiness. Vulnerable facilities where significant fire damage could occur, such as lodging facilities, jjokbangchon (small room villages), nursing hospitals, and traditional markets, will undergo fire safety inspections and enhanced surveillance activities.

Additionally, fire safety action guidelines covering situations such as fires that may occur during holiday food preparation will be promoted, and a campaign to gift residential fire safety equipment will be intensively conducted to raise public awareness and participation in fire safety.

Ko Ki-dong, Acting Minister of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, stated, "The government will maintain a flawless disaster and accident situation management system so that the public can safely enjoy the Lunar New Year holiday," and added, "We hope the public will also follow the safety guidelines to prevent disasters and accidents during the holiday period and spend a comfortable holiday with family and neighbors."