Yangcheon-gu is accepting pre-registrations starting Tuesday for its free Chuseok vehicle inspection event, set for Sept. 13 (Sunday) at the Yangcheon District Office parking lot. The program helps residents check their vehicles before long-distance drives during the Chuseok holiday.
The district has offered free vehicle inspections ahead of Chuseok every year since 1998, helping residents identify mechanical issues and prevent accidents before hitting the road. Given the consistently strong turnout over more than two decades, the program is expanding this year from once annually to twice — once each in the first and second halves of the year.
The first-half inspection was held for the first time at the Sinwol 6-dong Community Service Center in June to improve access for residents in the Sinwol area. That event also introduced a pre-registration and lottery system to assign inspection time slots, replacing the previous first-come, first-served approach, reducing wait times and improving on-site efficiency.
Residents who wish to participate can apply through the Yangcheon District Office website's integrated reservation portal from Tuesday through Sept. 9. A total of 250 vehicles will be selected by lottery and assigned inspection slots between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. on the day of the event.
Walk-in registrations will also be accepted on-site from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., with no advance reservation required. Vehicles not selected in the lottery, or owners who prefer an afternoon slot, may register at the venue on the day and will be seen in order of arrival. In the event of rain, the inspection will move to the Yangcheon District Office underground parking garage.
About 40 certified mechanics from the Yangcheon chapter of the Seoul Automobile Maintenance Business Cooperative (CarPos) will staff the event, inspecting roughly 400 passenger vehicles in total — including walk-ins — for basic safety conditions.
Inspection items include battery condition, tire wear, lighting systems, various fluid levels and coolant. Wipers and bulbs that can be replaced on the spot will be swapped out free of charge, and engine oil and washer fluid will be topped up as needed. Vehicles requiring more detailed inspection or additional repairs will receive a checklist directing them to a nearby service center for follow-up.
"Simply having your vehicle checked before a long Chuseok drive goes a long way toward preventing accidents," district mayor Lee Gi-jae said. "We will inspect vehicles with care so residents can travel to and from their hometowns safely and comfortably, and we will continue to push forward traffic safety policies that people can feel in their everyday lives."
seouldream01@heraldcorp.com
