Gyeonggi-do Recommends Closure of Kindergartens and Elementary Schools... Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters Raised to Emergency Level 3

Gyeonggi Province urgently recommended school closures and kindergarten suspensions in the province on the 28th due to concerns over accident risks caused by heavy snowfall.

Gyeonggi Province explained that, considering the high risk of collapses, falls, and traffic accidents due to record-breaking snowfall, it held an emergency consultation with the Gyeonggi Provincial Office of Education early that morning to decide on this measure to prevent safety accidents.

The decision to close schools and suspend kindergartens is ultimately at the discretion of each school principal and kindergarten director.

Gyeonggi Province expects that if elementary schools and kindergartens close or suspend operations, it will help alleviate traffic congestion by reducing traffic-inducing factors.

Gyeonggi Provincial Government

Additionally, all employees have been instructed to refrain from official business trips unrelated to disaster response, and employees who need to care for pregnant women or children attending school are encouraged to actively use parental leave, annual leave, family care leave, or telecommuting.

Earlier, on the 27th at 10 p.m., Gyeonggi Province raised the emergency level of the Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters from level 2 to level 3.

This is the first time Gyeonggi Province has activated the emergency response level 3 due to heavy snowfall. It is the second time this year since a heavy rain warning was issued across the province on July 18.

At emergency level 3, the situation management team leader remains the head of the Natural Disaster Division, and the number of personnel on duty is expanded to 34 to conduct emergency operations and respond to the heavy snowfall situation.

Meanwhile, a heavy snow warning has been issued for 21 cities and counties including Yangpyeong and Gwangju, and a heavy snow advisory has been issued for 5 cities and counties including Gimpo and Gapyeong.

As of 8 a.m. that day, the average snowfall in the province was 26.0 cm. The area with the most snow was Yongin City with 47.5 cm, while the lowest snowfall was recorded in Yeoncheon County with 1.5 cm.