Pre-inspections of disaster-prone and high-traffic facilities reinforced; medical and safety response systems activated
Holiday food safety, price monitoring and care for vulnerable residents to minimize service gaps
Nowon-gu in Seoul is rolling out a comprehensive Chuseok plan to reduce safety incidents and daily inconveniences during the holiday period while strengthening care for vulnerable residents.
This year's Chuseok holiday runs for three days, from Sept. 24 to Sept. 26. Expecting travel and consumer activity to concentrate during the short break, the district has put in place a tight emergency response framework across all sectors. A round-the-clock Chuseok command center will operate for six days, from 6 p.m. on Sept. 23 — the day before the holiday begins — through 9 a.m. on Sept. 28.
Pre-inspections of disaster-prone facilities have been significantly stepped up. Safety checks will cover large construction sites, residential hillside areas, high-traffic public facilities and gas supply installations. Inspectors will focus on risks including tower crane stability, falling-object prevention nets and gas leaks in preparation for typhoons, strong winds and sudden heavy rain. Wastewater-discharging businesses near waterways will be guided through self-inspections, and intensive enforcement will be carried out at high-risk sites.
The district will also manage food safety and prices. Hygiene and distribution practices at businesses handling holiday food items and livestock products will be inspected, and seasonal goods — including ancestral rite foods, traditional confections and cooking oils — will be collected for testing. A price-monitoring task force will operate from Sept. 23 through Oct. 1, tracking price trends for seasonal goods and personal services at department stores, hypermarkets and traditional markets. The district will actively respond to unjustified price hikes and price-fixing.
An emergency medical system will be activated to minimize healthcare gaps during the holiday. Information on open hospitals and pharmacies will be posted on the district website. On Chuseok day — Sept. 25 — a primary care clinic will operate at the public health center to treat patients with mild internal-medicine conditions and issue outpatient prescriptions. A 24-hour emergency medical operations center will also run separately throughout the holiday.
To support the local economy, the district will issue 5 billion won ($3.68 million) worth of Nowon Love Gift Certificates at a 5 percent discount starting at 6 p.m. on Sept. 17. The certificates can be purchased through the Seoul Pay Plus app and used at affiliated businesses within the district. From Sept. 11 through Sept. 13, a direct-trade market featuring fresh agricultural and marine specialties from South Jeolla Province and Gwangju will be held at Junggye Culture Park and Deungnaemu Culture Park.
Holiday care for vulnerable residents will also be reinforced. Community welfare centers and disability welfare centers will run Chuseok programs including sharing events, pancake making and songpyeon preparation. Elderly residents enrolled in the customized senior care service will receive welfare check calls before and after the holiday, with IoT devices used to monitor their activity levels and safety. Low-income seniors at risk of missing meals and children using community child centers will receive substitute meals and dosirak in advance, along with a special holiday meal on Chuseok day.
"Because the holiday is short, travel and consumption will be concentrated, which means we need even more thorough preparation on safety and daily life," Nowon-gu District Mayor Seo Jun-o said. "We will run all sector-specific measures without gaps through the command center so that every resident can enjoy a safe and fulfilling holiday."
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