By Kim Rahn
Staff Reporter
As usual around the time of Seollal, about 20 million people are heading for home, jamming roads across the country with cars.
This massive exodus will start Tuesday night when the holiday begins. Eight in 10 people said they will drive home, according to a survey by the Ministry of Construction and Transportation. It is expected to take at least nine hours from Seoul to Busan on highways, about eight hours from Seoul to Gwangju, and six hours from Seoul to Daejon.
The traffic jam for the return to Seoul after Seollal is not likely to be as heavy as the one for the homecoming, as people can select among three days from Friday to Sunday. The ministry's survey showed the largest number of people is likely to pick Friday.
The transportation authorities plan to increase operations of trains, buses, planes and ferries. Traffic information will be available by telephone at 1333 or 1588-2505, or through the Internet at www.jts.go.kr or www.ex.co.kr.
Drivers will be able to have their cars checked for free at rest stops. More than 500 temporary toilets will also be set up there and on the side of road sections that usually see traffic jams.
For those coming back to Seoul by train or bus at night, the operation of subways in Seoul and the surrounding metropolitan area will be extended to 2 a.m. on the last two days of the holiday.
The weather will be cloudy during the holiday, with snow forecast nationwide on Seollal and the day after. The mercury will drop lower than usual with morning lows in Seoul and Daejeon going down to minus 6 degrees Celsius.
The morning lows will remain below zero during the whole holiday period in almost all parts of the nation.
The Ministry of Health and Welfare has prepared an emergency treatment service. Those calling 1339 (press area code first when calling with cell phones) can receive counseling from doctors, or get information about pharmacies and hospitals that will be open during the holiday. The information is also available at www.nemc.go.kr and www.pharm114.or.kr.
The Seoul fire authority provides ``119 Home Safer Service,'' in which people who are visiting hometowns or traveling can ask the authority to check whether they left their home with their gas stove turned on or doors unlocked.