320,000 ferry passengers travel during Chuseok holiday with zero major accidents

134 ferries made 3,970 voyages, transporting about 70,000 vehicles

Shorter holiday period cut ridership by 59.5% from last year

Safety inspections of 143 coastal ferries corrected 373 hazards ahead of holiday

This photo is unrelated to the article. [Getty Images Bank]

Coastal ferries made 3,970 voyages during the Chuseok holiday, carrying about 320,000 passengers, with no major maritime accidents — including passenger deaths or disappearances — reported throughout the period. A shorter holiday this year pushed ridership down nearly 60% from last year.

The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries said Tuesday it deployed 134 ferries under its special Chuseok coastal ferry transport plan, transporting about 320,000 passengers and approximately 70,000 vehicles.

The busiest day was Thursday, when homebound Chuseok travelers packed the ferries, with about 80,000 passengers using the service in a single day.

Coastal ferry transport figures for the 2026 Chuseok holiday period [provided by the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries]

The shorter holiday this year sharply reduced ridership. Last year's special Chuseok transport period ran for 11 days, from Oct. 2 to Oct. 12, during which 780,000 passengers used coastal ferries. This year's ridership fell 59.5% from that figure, and vehicle transport dropped 57.7%, from 150,000 to about 70,000.

Ahead of the holiday, the ministry conducted joint safety inspections of 143 coastal ferries nationwide from Aug. 31 to Sept. 11, identifying and correcting 373 hazards.

Passenger convenience measures were also put in place at ferry terminals. Parking fees were waived at five state-operated terminals — Yonggipogu, Gunsan, Mokpo, Heuksando and Pohang. Six locations where congestion was anticipated — including Wando Port, Tongyeong terminal, Samcheonpo, Pohang and Ttangkkeut Port — added temporary parking for a combined 760 vehicles.

Minister of Oceans and Fisheries Hwang Jong-woo said the ministry had worked to ensure passengers could travel safely and conveniently during the Chuseok holiday through joint safety inspections and voyage forecasts. "We will continue to build safe sea routes that the public can trust and work to improve the convenience of ferry travel through better management of coastal ferries and terminals," he said.

adastra@heraldcorp.com