Gangnam-gu Launches Chuseok Safety, Medical and Care Plan

Gangnam-gu will run its "2026 Chuseok Comprehensive Plan" from Wednesday through Monday, aiming to prevent disasters and accidents while minimizing gaps in medical care, transportation and sanitation services during the holiday and extending support to vulnerable residents and the local economy.

The district will operate a central emergency operations center staffed by 402 personnel throughout the holiday period. A round-the-clock disaster safety monitoring room will remain active, with dedicated response teams on standby for flooding, sanitation, parking, parks and green spaces, emergency medical care, and infectious disease. Officials will monitor weather conditions and incidents in real time and coordinate an immediate response with relevant agencies when needed.

High-risk sites were inspected before the holiday. The district conducted joint inspections with outside experts starting in early September at 219 construction sites and six reconstruction sites across the district. Road infrastructure, parks, green spaces, waterways, traditional markets and commercial streets were also checked separately. Given a recent rise in fires, the district will closely monitor fire safety equipment, apartment complexes and gas facilities in unauthorized settlements including Guryong, Dalteo, Jaegeon and Sujeong villages.

Emergency medical services will also be in place. On Chuseok day itself, Friday, the district health center clinic will be staffed with doctors and nurses to treat patients with minor conditions and refer serious cases to emergency medical institutions. On Thursday and Saturday through Sunday, an on-call team will be on standby, able to report to work within one hour if needed. Sixty hospitals and clinics and 101 pharmacies will remain open during the holiday.

To reduce gaps in pediatric and adolescent care, the district will keep several night and holiday clinics operating, including Botong-ui Clinic in Apgujeong-dong, Dana Clinic in Nonhyeon-dong, and Yonsei Bada Pediatrics, Yonsei First ENT Clinic and Yonsei Dowoori Pediatrics in Gaepo-dong, as well as Segok Dalbit Clinic in Segok-dong.

The district will also step up welfare checks on vulnerable residents. Fifty-three community care volunteers will visit approximately 1,965 households at risk of solitary death across 22 neighborhoods. Elderly residents living alone — 1,126 in total — will receive holiday gift packages, and households receiving basic livelihood benefits, near-poverty support or single-parent family assistance will be given holiday relief payments.

To support the local economy, the district checked prices of essential goods ahead of the holiday and on Wednesday issued 39.5 billion won ($28.6 million) worth of Gangnam Love gift certificates. The certificates offer a 5 percent discount plus a 5 percent cashback on purchases, designed to boost consumer savings and encourage spending at local businesses.

The district will also take steps to minimize traffic, parking and sanitation inconveniences during the holiday. A traffic management center will provide information on holiday travel conditions and public transit schedules, while illegal parking enforcement will be applied flexibly based on traffic flow. Twenty-five public off-street parking lots will offer a 50 percent discount on overnight parking fees.

To manage waste, the district will run a sanitation operations center along with 18 mobile cleanup teams totaling 26 workers. Teams will patrol subway stations, bus stops and major roads twice daily to handle illegal dumping and accumulated waste. Special cleanup operations will be conducted in vulnerable areas before and after the holiday. Household waste disposal will be prohibited from 5 a.m. Thursday through 8 p.m. Friday.

Gangnam-gu District Mayor Kim Hyun-gi said the plan is focused on preventing accidents and medical gaps during the holiday while paying closer attention to neighbors in need. "We will keep a careful eye on the ground so that residents can enjoy a safe and comfortable Chuseok," he said.