Suwon City Prepares Comprehensive Chuseok Holiday Plan..."Spend a Safe Korean Thanksgiving in Suwon"

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Seo Dong-young] As concerns grow over COVID-19 spread during the Chuseok holiday period, Suwon City has prepared the "2020 Chuseok Holiday Comprehensive Plan" including quarantine measures.

◇2020 Chuseok: "Restraint from travel" is the trend

Suwon Mayor Yeom Tae-young appealed to citizens on the 15th through Suwon City's COVID-19 Response Statement No. 944, urging "staying at home" ahead of the Chuseok holiday.

Through a post on social media, Mayor Yeom stated, "In early May after the holiday break, club-related infections began, and summer vacations and gatherings in July and August became catalysts for the capital region outbreak," and urged citizens, "The holiday must not become a trigger for nationwide spread. It should be an opportunity to completely overcome the infectious disease crisis."

In particular, Suwon City introduced a pre-reservation system to distribute visitors at Suwon Yeonhwa Memorial Park, which attracts tens of thousands of tomb visitors during the holiday.

Until October 15, including the holiday period, admission will be limited to 45 families per hour, accepting a maximum of 1,800 visitors daily. Ritual halls will be closed and indoor eating will be prohibited to strengthen social distancing among visitors.

◇"Know where to get screening and emergency medical services"

Suwon City has established an emergency medical care system during the Chuseok holiday to minimize gaps and provide efficient public healthcare services to resolve residents' inconveniences.

As of the 22nd, Kwonseon-gu's Suyeo Sung Hospital, Paldal-gu's Baekseong Hospital, Suwon Wells Memorial Hospital, and Lee Chun-taek Hospital, and Yeongtong-gu's 365 Healing Clinic and Yeongtong Veterinary Hospital are confirmed to operate without holidays during the holiday period. Hospital hours vary, so it is necessary to confirm by phone in advance before visiting.

Additionally, approximately 20 holiday keeper pharmacies will open during this Chuseok period to assist citizens in need of emergency medicine. To check nearby pharmacies open during the holiday, citizens should check the Emergency Medical Information Center (www.1339.or.kr) and confirm their hours of operation.

All four health centers in Jangan-gu and other districts will operate screening clinics from the 30th through October 4, with staff on emergency duty so citizens needing tests can receive diagnostic testing from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

If the number of test samples increases, backup teams will be available from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.

◇Comprehensive measures for vulnerable groups to spend warm holidays

Support measures enabling marginalized neighbors to spend warm holidays cannot be overlooked.

For homeless individuals in the Suwon area who worry about meals during the holiday, three organizations will provide free meals for five days at the Jeong Nanum-teo plaza near Suwon Station. In particular, social distancing stickers have been placed at the free meal site to enable homeless individuals using the service to maintain social distance, strengthening quarantine management.

Furthermore, to ensure no underfed children during the Chuseok holiday, children receiving meals will be actively confirmed, and they will be supported in using group meal centers and general restaurants. In particular, plans include discovering resources connected with children such as neighboring residents, women's associations, and religious organizations capable of providing meals during the holiday.

Additionally, emergency supply kits will be provided to foreigners and multicultural families to experience Chuseok culture such as making songpyeon (traditional rice cakes) and traditional sauce preparation, creating a warm holiday atmosphere.

◇Making every effort to minimize inconvenience and ensure living stability

Suwon City will operate intensive cleaning during Chuseok from the 23rd, deploying a total of 325 environmental management workers. They will conduct intensive cleaning at Suwon Station and terminal areas, Hwaseong Haenggung Palace, and multipurpose facilities.

Additionally, schedules for contracted companies handling garbage and waste collection will be adjusted, and district mobile units will be operated to prevent inconveniences from waste collection.

Inspections for violations of country-of-origin labeling will be conducted at agricultural, livestock, and fishery product sales outlets and traditional markets, and safety inspections will be carried out at large-scale stores such as hypermarkets and shopping centers so citizens can shop with confidence ahead of the holidays.

◇Chuseok Holiday: Confirmation needed when using Suwon facilities

With social distancing level 2 guidelines currently in effect in the Seoul metropolitan area, tourist and exhibition facilities in Suwon can only operate on a limited basis. Therefore, if staying home during the holidays seems too frustrating, it is necessary to confirm whether facilities are available before visiting.

Hwaseong Fortress, an outdoor facility, operates from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and will be open free of charge on Chuseok Day, October 1st. Hwaseong Haenggung Palace opens from 9 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., including evening hours, but will not operate evening hours on Chuseok Day. To prevent overcrowding, maximum daily visitors are limited to 2,500, and experiences such as archery range, Hwaseong shuttle train rides, and bell-ringing will not operate on Chuseok Day. Additionally, due to social distancing, only about 50% of previous capacity will be accommodated.

Twenty public libraries in the Suwon area will close during the Chuseok holiday, and non-face-to-face book reservation and loan services will not operate. Therefore, Suwon residents who enjoy books should borrow in advance before the holiday.

Suwon City is preparing to accept visitors on a limited basis through pre-reservation systems if social distancing levels are adjusted and indoor exhibition facilities such as museums and art galleries become operational.

Instead, 332 urban parks will be maintained so citizens visiting parks during the holiday can enjoy them comfortably and safely. To this end, the Park and Greenspace Management Office will conduct site inspections from the 23rd through the 25th to maintain landscaping, facilities, restrooms, and various amenities, providing a comfortable environment for visitors unable to visit hometowns.

A Suwon City official stated, "We have prepared measures in each sector to create a safe environment during the Chuseok holiday, practice warm neighbor love, and minimize residents' inconveniences," and added, "Given the difficulties in visiting hometowns and relatives due to COVID-19, we will make more careful efforts in disease prevention and countermeasures."