Up to 60cm of Snow Expected by Tomorrow... Ministry of the Interior and Safety Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters Activated Level 1

Focus on Gyeonggi, Gangwon, Chungbuk, and Gyeongbuk Regions

[Asia Economy Reporter Seong Giho] The Ministry of the Interior and Safety announced on the 15th that, as a heavy snow warning was issued mainly for the Gyeonggi, Gangwon, Chungbuk, and Gyeongbuk regions, it will activate Emergency Level 1 of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters from 12:00 today and raise the crisis alert level from 'Interest' to 'Caution.'

According to the weather forecast, snow that began mainly in the Gangwon region from the 14th is expected to expand to Gyeonggi Province, Chungcheongbuk-do, and Gyeongsangbuk-do until the 16th, with more than 40cm of snowfall expected in many parts of the Gangwon mountainous area. The Gangwon East Coast and northeastern mountainous areas of Gyeongbuk are expected to receive 5 to 15cm of snow.

The head of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters instructed the following key management measures to thoroughly prepare in advance to prevent any damage to the public caused by the heavy snow.

Since a large amount of wet snow is expected, promotion of roof snow removal should be strengthened for prefabricated temporary housing, old buildings, vinyl greenhouses, etc. Evacuation should be actively considered for residents in snow-vulnerable facilities. Snow removal on major roads such as expressways and national highways should be thoroughly conducted, and especially, intensive snow removal should be carried out on vulnerable sections prone to icing, such as boundary and connecting roads, tunnel entrances and exits, bridges, and ramp sections, where freezing is expected during early morning hours.

Reporter Dongju Yoon doso7@

Furthermore, in case of sudden situations, quick measures such as vehicle detour guidance should be taken, and all available means should be mobilized to promptly inform the public. The National Police Agency was instructed to actively support manpower and equipment for road control and vehicle detour guidance.

After snowfall, follow-up snow removal should be thoroughly implemented on side roads, village streets, and pedestrian paths. In particular, intensive snow removal should be conducted in public spaces densely populated by citizens, such as bus stops, subway stations, and daycare centers, to ensure no inconvenience to the public.

Lee Sang-min, head of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters, expressed concern that “heavy snow over the weekend may cause traffic chaos and the possibility of isolation in some areas,” and urged, “If there is a shortage of snow removal equipment and personnel due to the large amount of snowfall, an equipment support system among local governments should be actively considered, and the public should also pay attention to weather conditions and related safety guidelines to ensure their safety.”