'Up to 59cm' Snowstorm Hits Gangwon-do for Two Days... Vehicles Stranded

Over 100 Traffic Accidents... Vehicles Stranded
Mountain Passes and National Park Trails Also Closed
Snow Continues Until Morning of the 16th

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyunjung] Over the weekend, Gangwon-do experienced heavy snowfall exceeding 59 cm in two days, causing vehicles to become stranded and more than 100 traffic accidents.

According to the Gangwon Regional Meteorological Administration on the 15th, from the previous day until 7 p.m. on the 15th, heavy snow accumulated mainly in mountainous areas: 59.5 cm in Goseong Misiryeong, 53.5 cm in Hyangrobong, 39.4 cm in Sokcho Seorak-dong, 27.2 cm in Hongcheon Guryongryeong, 27.2 cm in Yangyang Osaek, 23.9 cm in Inje Jochimryeong, 19.9 cm in Gangneung Sapdangryeong, 18.2 cm in Pyeongchang Daegwallyeong, 14.9 cm in Yanggu Haean, 12.5 cm in Taebaek, and 10.1 cm in Jeongseon Imgae. Inland areas also recorded snowfall amounts such as 11.1 cm at Hwacheon Peace Dam, 10.2 cm in Hoengseong Anhung, 7.7 cm in Chuncheon Namsan, 4.3 cm in Wonju Chiaksan, 3.7 cm in Yeongwol Sangdong, and 3.7 cm in Cheorwon Dongsong.

On the 15th, vehicles are tangled on the road section of the old Yeongdong Expressway in Daegwallyeong, Pyeongchang-gun, Gangwon Province, where heavy snow fell.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

As a result, major expressways and national roads along the East Coast in Gangwon-do saw a series of rear-end collisions on snowy roads, and vehicles that were not yet equipped for winter conditions became stranded in entangled traffic.

According to police and fire authorities, around noon on the 15th, a report was received that about 10 vehicles were stranded on the Jamboree Road in Toseong-myeon, Goseong-gun, Gangwon. In response, police, fire departments, and military snow removal vehicles were urgently deployed, and after about 1 hour and 30 minutes of snow removal work, vehicle traffic resumed. Additionally, on the Donghae Expressway section between Sokcho and Yangyang, vehicles became stranded, prompting support from about 200 police riot squad members and 54 patrol cars.

The police estimated that the number of traffic accidents caused by this heavy snowfall reached around 100 cases.

The appearance of Hangyeryeong transformed into a winter kingdom.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

Mountain passes and national park trails were also closed, and air traffic was disrupted. The Gangwon Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters controlled roads including the old Misiryeong Road connecting Inje and Goseong, Yeongwol County Road No. 15, rural roads No. 102 and 302, and Wonju County Roads No. 8 and 11. They also blocked and rerouted three roads leading to Seoraksan: Mokujae Road, Malgogae in Chuncheon Sabuk-myeon, Baehuryung, and Saemitgogae.

Fifty-five national park trails were closed, including 22 in Taebaeksan, 17 in Seoraksan, 12 in Chiaksan, and 4 in Odaesan. Gangneung City shortened some bus routes such as Sogeumgang and Wichon-ri to Songam, and Sokcho City did not operate 16 village bus routes. Yangyang Airport operated flights after snow removal, but Wonju Airport canceled flights.

The Meteorological Administration forecasts an additional 3 to 10 cm of snow, with up to 15 cm or more in northern mountainous areas, on the Gangwon mountains and mid-northern East Coast until the morning of the 16th. A strong wind is expected in the central East Sea where a storm warning has been issued, and strong swells are anticipated along the East Coast. With temperatures dropping and a high risk of icy roads, the Meteorological Administration urges special caution to prevent traffic and pedestrian safety accidents.