Seoul: More than 34 million people are expected to travel domestically and internationally during the upcoming Lunar New Year holiday, according to a state-run institute Tuesday. The Korea Transport Institute estimates that 34.84 million people will be on the move during the six-day period from Saturday to next Thursday. This marks a 29 percent increase from last year's Lunar New Year, when the holiday lasted five days.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the peak travel day is forecast to be next Tuesday, with 6.01 million travelers expected. Highway traffic on that day is projected to reach 6.39 million vehicles. Despite the anticipated peak, the daily average highway traffic is expected to decrease by 7.7 percent to 5.02 million vehicles, as the extended holiday period helps spread out travel demand.
To ensure smooth and safe travel, the government plans to implement special measures, including the opening of emergency lanes on major highways and increasing seat availability for public transportation. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport will designate a 10-day special transportation period from Friday to Feb. 2 to facilitate safe and convenient travel for the public during the holiday season.