"Hello, this is Moon Jae-in. This is information on the current traffic conditions as you make your happy way to your hometowns."
President Moon surprised drivers by broadcasting current traffic conditions live as a daily traffic correspondent for about six minutes at local broadcaster tbs Monday. The move was part of his signature campaign to better communicate with people on the occasion of the Chuseok holiday, the equivalent to Thanksgiving.
"You must be surprised that I've suddenly turned up on the broadcast," Moon said.
Reminding people that dozing off at the wheel is the most dangerous thing on long-distance drives, the president said there is a saying that the most reliable seat belt is rest.
"It's good to take a rest at rest areas when tired," Moon said.
He also asked drivers to make sure "all seat belts are fastened when you hit the road again."
He said that he hopes people, who have been working hard, will visit their hometowns leisurely and get enough rest now that this year's Chuseok holiday is relatively long as it lasts for 10 days due to to the adoption of a special one-off holiday,
Moon also thanked bus, taxi and train drivers, as well as maritime workers, who are working during the holiday.
He said the government will do its best to help everyone make their holiday journeys safe and comfortable.
"This is Moon Jae-in. Thank you," he said at the end of the broadcast.
Later in the day, Moon called 11 citizens who cannot spend time with their families during the holiday, the presidential office said.
Among them were Lee Jae-il, a researcher at the King Sejong Station in Antarctica; Kim Bok-dong, a former victim of the Japanese military's sexual enslavement during World War II; Yoo Yong-seok, the father of an Army recruit; police officer Joo Yeon-wha; Choi Eun-mi and Lee Ha-na, consultants at emergency call centers; and Capt. Jang Yoon-sung of an airborne brigade, source from Yonhap.
