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Autumn freeze sweeps Korea

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On Monday morning, Oct. 30, people crossing an intersection on Sejong-ro Street in Jongno-gu, Seoul, wear thick overcoats to ward off the coldest autumn weather this year. / Yonhap

By Chyung Eun-ju

The first big autumn freeze hit Korea on Monday morning as temperatures plunged to 4.5C in Seoul and to sub-zero in rural regions.

“Cold winds will work their way from the northwest area to the south until Tuesday. The temperature will drop significantly more than average,” said the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA).

“There were areas that dropped below zero, which is the lowest temperature this autumn. The first ice and frost were also spotted.”

Hoarfrost blankets foliage in Deogyu-bong Peak of Deogyusan Mountain in Muju-gun, North Jeolla Province, as temperatures dropped to -8C on Monday morning. / Yonhap

Temperatures plummeted to -8C on Deogyu-bong Peak of Deogyusan Mountain in Muju-gun, North Jeolla Province; – 7.6C at Gimhwa village close to the inter-Korean border in Cheorwon-gun; -7.6 in Gangwon Province and -5.9C at Misan village in Yeoncheon-gun, Gyeonggi Province.

Major cities also recorded single-digit temperatures. At 6 a.m., western port city Incheon recorded 4.9C, eastern port city Gangneung 8.9C, Daejeon 3.4C, Gwangju 7.6C and Daegu 7.4C, Southern port cities Busan and Ulsan recorded 8.1C and 7.3C respectively.

Hoarfrost covers Halla Mountain top on Jeju Island on Monday. / Yonhap

People heading to work at the start of the week were wearing padded jackets, mufflers, coats, winter hats and earmuffs.

“Today was the first day I wore my winter coat instead of my trench coat,” said an office worker, 28. “It was not very cold on Saturday, but it suddenly became cold. I’m worried I will catch a cold.”

Temperatures are expected to warm up on Wednesday to around 11C and fall back to 2C in Seoul by Saturday, according to the KMA.

Ice on the surface of streams on Daegwanryeong Hill in Pyeongchang-gun, Gangwon Province, where the temperature dropped to 4.1C on Oct. 24. / Yonhap