Korea Expressway Corporation Elevates Emergency Duty to Highest Level in Preparation for Heavy Snowfall

Ham Jingyu Presides Over Emergency Heavy Snowfall Countermeasure Meeting on the 2nd

Korea Expressway Corporation (EX) announced on the 2nd that it held an emergency heavy snowfall countermeasure meeting at the EX-Smart Center in Pangyo, Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi Province, and strengthened its emergency response system.

The corporation raised its emergency duty to the highest level, anticipating concentrated snowfall from the night of the 2nd to the morning of the 3rd and on the 4th. It secured 109,000 tons of snow removal materials and 55 snow removal vehicles in advance, and is enhancing real-time weather monitoring on major highways. Snow removal agents will be proactively sprayed in sections where ice is likely to form.

The corporation decided to share traffic accident and road closure information in real time by cooperating with the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and local governments. Large rescue equipment and personnel have been pre-positioned in key sections, and emergency relief and rescue systems have been inspected in cooperation with military units.

On the 2nd, Ham Jin-gyu, President of Korea Expressway Corporation (fourth from the left), is presiding over an emergency snow removal countermeasure inspection meeting at the Pangyo EX-Smart Center in Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi Province. Photo by Korea Expressway Corporation

At the meeting, President Ham Jin-gyu of the corporation stated, "Assign snow removal responsibility zones to each executive, and regional headquarters chiefs and branch managers must work at their designated locations." He also said, "Snow removal should be strengthened in areas where snow easily accumulates, such as bridges and tunnel entrances, and real-time information should be provided to drivers through road variable message signs (VMS) and text messages."

According to the Korea Meteorological Administration, snow and rain are expected nationwide from today until the 5th. In particular, up to 1 meter of snow is forecast for the Gangwon Yeongdong region, 3 to 10 cm for the Seoul metropolitan area (up to 20 cm in northeastern Gyeonggi), and 5 to 25 cm for Chungbuk and northern Gyeongbuk.

The corporation urged drivers to prepare winter equipment in advance, such as installing winter tires and urethane chains. When the road surface is icy, speed limits should be reduced by 20 to 50%, and the distance between vehicles should be maintained at more than twice the usual.

The corporation stated, "Travelers to the Gangwon area are expected to increase during the holiday period," and urged, "Returnees should avoid returning home between the evening of the 2nd and the morning of the 3rd, when heavy snowfall is forecast."