Heavy snowfall disrupts evening commute across Seoul, capital region

Cars remain stuck in heavy traffic as pedestrians cross a snow-covered street in central Seoul, Thursday, as heavy snow advisories were issued for Seoul, Incheon, Gyeonggi Province and parts of Gangwon Province. The Ministry of the Interior and Safety activated the government's emergency response headquarters at 6 p.m. and raised the national heavy snow alert from “attention” to “caution.” Newsis

Heavy snow swept through Seoul and the surrounding metropolitan area on Thursday evening, slowing traffic across the region and prompting authorities to issue heavy snowfall advisories. The Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) said the capital could receive 2 to 6 centimeters of snow overnight, with some parts of Gyeonggi Province seeing snow falling at rates of up to 3 centimeters an hour.

Snow quickly made the roads slippery, and traffic slowed to a near standstill at major intersections and highway ramps. Some areas saw delays in snow removal, raising the risk of skidding and minor accidents. Commuters crowded into subway stations to avoid bus delays, while cities in Gyeonggi Province such as Namyangju and Suwon reported similarly difficult conditions as snow piled up through the evening.

As the weather worsened, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety activated the government's emergency response headquarters and raised the national heavy snow alert from “attention” to “caution.” Heavy snow advisories were in effect across Seoul, Incheon, Gyeonggi Province and parts of Gangwon Province.

Local governments were instructed to step up snow removal and manage traffic bottlenecks, particularly around major intersections and pedestrian areas. Officials also called for inspections of facilities vulnerable to heavy snow — including greenhouses, livestock shelters and older buildings — and urged residents to use public transportation and exercise caution on icy roads and sidewalks.

Snow was expected to continue falling across the capital region until late evening. Northern Gyeonggi Province and mountainous inland areas of Gangwon Province were forecast to receive up to 8 centimeters. With temperatures set to dip overnight, authorities warned that icy roads could make Friday morning commutes challenging.

Cars move slowly on snow-covered roads near Hongik University in Mapo District, Seoul, Thursday, as heavy snow advisories were issued for Seoul, Incheon, Gyeonggi Province and parts of Gangwon Province. Yonhap