What is Chuseok?
Chuseok, also known as Korean Thanksgiving Day, is an important holiday celebrated on the 15th day of the eighth month of the lunar calendar. On the days before and after Chuseok Koreans return to their ancestral hometowns to pay respects and celebrate with family. The travel causes one of the biggest traffic jams of the year as people often take the roads to reach the areas outside of Seoul.
Safety Hazards and Concerns:
- Understand the elevated risk of traffic hazards during this time period, major intersections/highways will be extremely congested.
- Monitor the road conditions and if travelling outside of Seoul be prepared to be stopped in traffic for LONG periods of time.
- When making travel arrangements, plan ahead and conduct Preventative Maintenance Checks and Services (PMCS) prior to departure.
- Keep an Emergency Kit in your vehicle.
- Look for alternative methods of travel such as Public Transportation (Train, Subway or Bus).
- Minimize all tactical vehicle movement during the holiday period.
2017 Chuseok Holiday Road Conditions:
[2017 CHUSEOK HOLIDAY ROAD CONDITION MATRIX]
- GREEN: Highway conditions are normal.
- AMBER: Military vehicles, other than those required for essential business, will not be driven on highways. POV owners need to use extreme caution and are encouraged to observe the rules established for military vehicles. An O-3 or GS-10 or above may authorize mission on back of dispatch.
- RED: Military vehicles, other than emergency/essential business, will not be driven. O-5 / GS-13 or above may authorize usage for business that cannot be postponed without jeopardizing military requirements. Back side of dispatch must be signed by person authorizing mission.
- BLACK: All U.S. Government vehicles are prohibited from movement. Commanders of O-6 and above must personally authorize the use of emergency vehicles after the appropriate risk assessment and mitigation actions are considered.
For more information contact the 8A Command Safety Office at DSN 755-1281
Related Documents:
Eighth Army Chusok Holiday Safety Gram (Pdf) [PDF]
Social Sharing