Suwon City: "Enjoy the Lunar New Year Holiday Safely and Happily"

[Suwon Ilbo=Correspondent Seo Dong-young] Suwon City announced on the 20th that it has prepared comprehensive measures to ensure citizens can safely enjoy the Lunar New Year holiday during the holiday period (February 24-27).

The city is accelerating early disbursement of various support funds and expediting delivery of comfort items for vulnerable populations so that disadvantaged neighbors can have a warm holiday.

The city will execute early disbursement of basic living expenses for approximately 11,000 low-income households, as well as basic pensions and child benefits. In particular, for basic pensions to be paid before the holiday to 76,000 elderly citizens, the eligibility for the maximum amount (300,000 won) has been expanded from the lowest 20% income bracket to the lowest 40%.

Additionally, comfort items valued at 30,000 won (Onnuri gift certificates) have been provided to approximately 5,000 vulnerable households including elderly living alone aged 70 and above, severely disabled individuals, and elderly couples.

As a special protection measure for homeless individuals, free meals during the holiday period have been increased to three times. The city is also providing travel subsidies to help them return to their hometowns. The homeless comprehensive support center and homeless self-sufficiency facilities will organize joint charye (traditional holiday meal) ceremonies and yut (traditional game) contests.

The city is hosting a Lunar New Year 'Global Tuho Tournament' targeting underprivileged multicultural families and immigrant youth, and providing opportunities to experience Korean 'Seol' culture and yut games.

Meanwhile, senior public officials from City Hall and four district offices will personally visit 51 social welfare facilities including child-rearing facilities and four veterans' facilities in the jurisdiction to deliver comfort items.

The city is also advancing local economic revitalization through special holiday incentives, traditional market activation, and large-scale retail facility safety inspections.

Suwon Pay provides 10% special incentives through the 28th. The individual purchase discount limit for Onnuri gift certificates has been increased from 300,000 won to 700,000 won through February 28th.

Prior to the holiday on the 23rd, a joint inspection team for Lunar New Year price stability will be organized to intensively inspect unfair trading practices including collusion and overcharging beyond posted fees, while specially managing 16 holiday staple items. These include apples, pears, chestnuts, meat, and seafood which have high demand during the holiday period.

Price monitoring staff will be deployed to traditional markets and large supermarkets to investigate prices of 16 staple holiday items and disclose results on the city website, encouraging retailers to refrain from raising prices on these items.

For returning-home and traffic management and communication measures during the holiday, a situation control team led by the public transportation director will operate during the holiday period, with two staff members deployed daily.

For smooth vehicle traffic, traffic guidance volunteer services will be provided by exemplary driver associations and the Samun Association at various interchanges and terminals.

During the holiday period, citizens will not have to worry about finding a hospital or searching for nearby free parking near relatives' homes.

This is because the city has opened a 'Suwon City Lunar New Year Holiday Comprehensive Guide' webpage where citizens can view holiday-related information at a glance.

The site is organized into sections for ▲medical services ▲traditional markets ▲tourism ▲cleaning and safety ▲transportation ▲ancestral tomb visits ▲civil affairs, where users can find information on hospitals and pharmacies operating during the holiday, traditional markets, cultural tourism facilities, garbage collection schedules, and 43 free parking lots.

Citizens can access the information by clicking the banner on the first page of the city website (http://www.suwon.go.kr/), directly entering the address (http://online.suwon.go.kr/2020_seol/) in the address bar, or scanning the QR code embedded in the website banner to access it immediately on smartphones anytime, anywhere.

A city official stated, "During the holiday period, citizens' safety and convenience are the top priority," and added, "We will thoroughly implement the '2020 Lunar New Year Holiday Preparedness Measures' so that all citizens can spend a safe and comfortable Lunar New Year holiday."