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Prime Minister Kim Min-seok speaks during a Cabinet meeting on current state affairs at the Government Complex Seoul on September 24. / Source: Yonhap News

Prime Minister Kim Min-seok on September 24 instructed government ministries to strengthen safety management for the Chuseok holiday and prepare special quarantine measures against livestock diseases in winter, so that citizens can enjoy the holiday with peace of mind.

Presiding over the 4th Cabinet meeting on current state affairs at the Government Complex Seoul, Kim emphasized the need to prevent traffic and safety accidents in advance, given the surge in travel and lifestyle changes during the holiday. “It is essential to strengthen readiness, including 24-hour situation rooms, and to conduct prior inspections in high-risk areas to minimize dangers such as traffic accidents and fires,” he said.

Kim also called for preventive measures against industrial accidents expected to rise around the holiday season, as well as scams disguised as gift or delivery services, such as voice phishing and smishing.

In addition, Kim declared a “special quarantine period” running from October 1 to the end of February. Citing recent outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza in Paju and African swine fever at a pig farm in Yeoncheon, he warned that the long holiday could accelerate the spread of livestock diseases through increased movement of people and vehicles. The five-month campaign will focus on thorough farm biosecurity, including intensive disinfection at migratory bird habitats and blocking the movement of wild boars.

The prime minister also urged innovation in the use of “pseudonymized data,” information processed so that individuals cannot be identified. He noted that the system had been too passively managed, leaving data underutilized. “We will establish a one-stop system for pseudonymization, reducing the average processing time from about 310 days to under 100,” Kim said. “This will cut the risks of data leaks in the AI era while unlocking new opportunities through data use.”

Furthermore, Kim announced the launch of an online “Policy Communication Plaza” to better engage the public in the implementation of national tasks. “The greatest risk to carrying out government initiatives is lack of communication,” he stressed. “We must anticipate risks in advance, and in policy execution as well, speed and communication are critical. We will push forward quickly while engaging actively with the public.”