Korea Warns of Chuseok Traffic and Cooking Fire Risks

South Korea’s government has urged the public to take additional safety precautions during the Chuseok travel period, warning that road accidents spike before the holiday while cooking activity increases the risk of residential fires.

The Ministry of Interior and Safety said Monday that traffic data from 2021 through 2025 showed the day before the Chuseok holiday period recorded an average of 750 accidents. That was about 1.4 times the ordinary daily average of 541. Crashes began increasing from 2 p.m. and reached their highest concentration between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m., when an average of 123 incidents occurred during the two-hour period.

Although the total number of crashes during the holiday itself was lower than on ordinary days, the ministry said their human toll was greater. Chuseok-period accidents produced 166 casualties per 100 crashes, compared with 144 casualties per 100 accidents on regular days. The figures underscore the risks created when families travel together over long distances and roads become congested.

Officials advised motorists to check engines, brakes and tires before leaving, make sure every passenger wears a seat belt and place children in age-appropriate car seats. Drivers were also told to keep a safe distance from other vehicles, use extra caution on unfamiliar roads and stop at a rest area if they become tired. The ministry emphasized that anyone who consumes alcohol should not drive.

Fire safety is another concern as households prepare traditional holiday meals. Over the five years reviewed, 1,122 fires occurred during the three-day period covering the day before Chuseok, Chuseok itself and the following day. Residential fires accounted for a share 9.4 percentage points above the year-round average of 27.2 percent. Chuseok day had the highest daily average, at 32.8 fires.

Carelessness was the leading cause of residential fires during the period, accounting for 194 cases, or 47.2 percent. Examples included leaving food unattended on a stove or failing to watch an open flame. Electrical factors caused 126 fires, or 30.7 percent, while mechanical factors were blamed for 17 cases, or 4.1 percent.

The ministry advised cooks to keep flammable materials away from burners and never leave a lit stove unattended. If cooking oil catches fire, people should first shut off the gas or electricity and must not pour water onto the flames, because doing so can spread burning oil. The warnings come as households and travelers prepare for one of Korea’s busiest annual holiday periods.