Heavy Rain Warning Across Seoul and Gyeonggi... Up to 200mm Expected Over Two Days (Comprehensive)

First 'Heavy Rain Emergency Disaster Alert' of the Year
Beware of Lowland Flooding and Traffic Safety

A stationary front remains over the Seoul and Gyeonggi metropolitan areas, prompting a heavy rain warning. The heavy rain warning is issued when rainfall is expected to exceed 90mm in 3 hours or 180mm in 12 hours. People are advised to refrain from going out or driving and to exercise caution near rivers.

Rainwater poured into a tributary of Cheonggyecheon in Seoul, causing water to overflow onto the Cheonggyecheon walkway, resulting in restricted access.
Photo by Heo Young-han

According to the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) on the 17th, a heavy rain warning was issued at 8:45 a.m. for all of Seoul and Bucheon and Guri in Gyeonggi Province. Previously, heavy rain warnings had been issued for 10 locations including Namyangju, Hanam, and Yangpyeong in Gyeonggi. The expected rainfall over two days is 60-120mm in Seoul, Incheon, Gyeonggi, and the five western islands (with heavier amounts exceeding 150mm in southern Seoul and Gyeonggi, and over 200mm in northern Gyeonggi), and 30-80mm in inland and mountainous areas of Gangwon Province (with some areas exceeding 120mm). For the first time this year, the KMA sent emergency disaster text messages for heavy rain to Seoul, Paju in Gyeonggi, and other areas. A KMA official emphasized, “We must prepare for the possibility of water backflow in sewage systems, storm drains, and gutters, and pay special attention to flooding in low-lying areas,” adding, “Visibility is rapidly decreasing and roads are slippery, so traffic safety must be prioritized.”

In northern Gyeonggi, torrential rain with a maximum hourly rainfall of 170mm has caused a series of damage reports. According to police and fire authorities, as of 8:30 a.m., the Gyeonggi Fire and Disaster Headquarters situation room received over 100 reports of rain damage, and the Northern Gyeonggi Police Agency situation room also received more than 100 reports. Currently, more than 20 roads in the region are flooded and closed due to the heavy rain. The Shinsa 1 Bridge in Nam-myeon, Yangju City, was flooded as nearby river water rose, and a manhole cover was lost due to road flooding near Deokjeong Intersection on Pyeonghwa-ro in Dongducheon City. The Dangdong IC road in Munsan-eup, Paju City, was flooded, and at around 8:05 a.m., the intersection at Heungseon Square on Hoguk-ro in Uijeongbu City was also flooded, leading to road closures. Train operations between Uijeongbu Station and Yeoncheon Station on Line 1 are currently delayed and on standby.

Lee Sang-min, Minister of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, stated, “The government will focus all efforts on safety management by establishing thorough preparedness and emergency response systems centered on the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters,” and urged, “Citizens are requested to check real-time weather updates and avoid approaching dangerous areas such as mountainous regions, riversides, and low-lying areas.”