Science ministry expands free video calls and debt relief for Chuseok

The science ministry said Friday it will partner with telecommunications and platform companies to provide free video calls and expand debt relief protections for the Chuseok holiday, citing expectations of a sharp surge in digital service usage during the festival.

Carriers will offer free video calling data to all subscribers, including mobile virtual network operator users, for four days from Sept. 24 to Sept. 27. During last year's seven-day holiday, approximately 2.8 million people utilized the service for a total of 310,000 hours.

To handle increased traffic, the three major carriers tripled communication equipment along key KTX high-speed rail sections on the Gyeongbu, Honam, and Jeolla lines. They added 305 base stations at highways, airports and tourist sites while deploying 32 mobile units and completing roughly 37,000 preemptive inspections.

Platform operators are enhancing map applications to display emergency medical facilities, free parking lots and traditional markets, while navigation services have added quick-search functions to help users locate open clinics and holiday parking spaces. The ministry and industry partners also established a 24-hour emergency response system with major security firms to monitor cyber threats targeting logistics, shopping, and travel services.

The ministry revised rules regarding overdue phone bills to protect vulnerable consumers, increasing the period users can receive calls and texts despite non-payment from 21 days to up to three months. Essential services such as identity verification and phishing protection will remain active even if accounts are suspended.

Small payment arrears will no longer trigger service suspensions, and the government plans to activate integrated debt adjustment programs with the Credit Recovery Committee to help delinquent users restore their credit; the program has already facilitated reconnection for 9,782 users as of late July. Telecommunications firms will additionally advance payments to subcontractors and reduce fees for small merchants as part of a support package, while platform companies plan similar early settlements and promotional fee cuts for vendors.