By Yi Whan-woo
A total of 29.19 million people are expected to visit their hometown during the Feb. 9 to 11 Lunar New Year holiday, the Ministry of Land, Transport, and Maritime Affairs said Tuesday.
The number represents a slight increase from the 29.16 million in 2012. The ministry added, however, that the number of daily travelers around the holiday will be 5.84 million, a 20.1 percent rise from 4.86 million a year ago.
The ministry’s projection is based on the fact that two days of the three-day holiday fall on a weekend, resulting in tight time constraints for people visiting their hometowns and returning to work.
The 2012 holiday was between Jan. 22 and 24, from Sunday to Tuesday.
“Larger crowds are expected at bus and train stations compared to last year,” a ministry official said.
The ministry made its forecast based on a telephone survey conducted by the Korea Transport Institute (KOTI) upon its request. The institute called 8,000 citizens and asked whether they plan to head to their hometowns between Feb. 8 and 12.
According to the ministry, traffic will be extremely busy on Feb. 9. It said many travelers from Seoul will visit their homes in rural areas in Gangwon, Chungcheong, Gyeonsang, and Jeolla provinces as well as on Jeju Island.
“And we expect a similar case on Feb. 10 and 11, although the traffic jams will not be as bad as Feb. 9,” a ministry official said.
When asked about their preferred mode of transport, going by car was the response of 81.9 percent of those surveyed. Express bus was next with 13.2 percent, the train followed with 4 percent, then plane with 0.3 percent.
The survey also showed that 31.5 percent of the respondents will use the Gyeongbu Expressway that links Seoul and Busan.
The ministry said it will increase the number of express buses, trains, and planes in operation between Feb. 8 and 12. It also said it will provide real-time traffic information via the Internet and television.