Seoul City Activates Level 1 Emergency Snow Response Amid Heavy Snowfall Forecast

The Seoul Metropolitan Government announced that it will activate Level 1 of its snow response protocol and begin emergency operations starting at 11:00 p.m. on January 9.

Heavy snow is falling near the urban stream in Chuncheon City on the 23rd of last month, when a heavy snow advisory was issued for the mountainous and inland areas of Gangwon Province. Photo by Yonhap News

The decision to activate the snow response protocol was made during a meeting of 32 snow removal-related agencies, presided over by Han Byungyong, Director-General of the Disaster and Safety Office, at 5:00 p.m. on the same day.

The city will use snow forecast CCTVs installed at five locations in the West Coast region to analyze the movement of snow clouds and snowfall paths in real time, and will take preemptive measures such as pre-spraying de-icing agents. A total of 552 personnel and 1,145 pieces of equipment will be mobilized for snow removal operations.

The Comprehensive Snow Removal Countermeasures Situation Room will monitor real-time traffic and snow removal status using CCTVs that cover major arterial roads throughout Seoul.

De-icing agents and equipment stored in snow removal boxes placed in alleys and on steep slopes have been inspected and replenished in advance. These snow removal boxes are available for use by any citizen, provided it is for snow removal purposes.

Han Byungyong, Director-General of the Disaster and Safety Office of the Seoul Metropolitan Government, stated, "We will respond thoroughly to this weekend's snowfall by working closely with district offices and relevant agencies."