Up to 19cm of Snow in Honam... Up to 10cm More Expected by Afternoon

Intense Snowfall of Up to 3cm Per Hour Causes Widespread Damage
Mass Flight Cancellations and Severe Traffic Disruptions

A heavy snowstorm accompanied by strong winds swept through the Gwangju and Jeonnam regions, triggering heavy snow warnings across the area and causing widespread traffic chaos. The photo shows district office employees clearing snow from a pedestrian overpass covered in snow in Yuchon-dong, Seo-gu, Gwangju, on January 2, the first working day of the new year. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

A sudden heavy snowstorm and strong winds swept across the entire Gwangju and Jeonnam regions, resulting in heavy snow warnings being issued in areas such as Muan and Mokpo. As a result, sea and air routes have been cut off in various locations, and accidents on snow-covered roads are occurring frequently.

According to the Gwangju Regional Meteorological Administration on January 11, heavy snow warnings are currently in effect for Muan and Mokpo, while heavy snow advisories have been issued for 12 cities and counties in Jeonnam, including Naju, Boseong, Gangjin, and Haenam.

In particular, intense snowfall of 1 to 3 centimeters per hour is concentrated along the Jeonnam coastline, resulting in record snow accumulations: 19.7 centimeters at Jeonnam Provincial Government Office (Muan), 14.6 centimeters in Mokpo, 12.3 centimeters in Yeongam, and 10.2 centimeters on Baegunsan Mountain in Gwangyang.

Traffic restrictions due to the heavy snow are also spreading. All operations on 45 passenger ship routes involving 58 vessels at Jeonnam passenger terminals have been suspended. At Yeosu Airport, one flight connecting Jeju and Gimpo was delayed, and three flights were canceled. Vehicle access has been prohibited on 14 major mountain roads, including Nogodan in Gurye and Dotjae in Hwasun, and access to trails in five national parks, including Mudeungsan, has also been restricted.

There have also been reports of casualties and accidents. According to the Jeonnam Fire Headquarters, as of the morning of January 11, a total of 23 safety-related incidents, including slips on snowy roads, had been reported.

The Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters has raised the heavy snow crisis alert to the "caution" level and activated Level 1 emergency response. Currently, a total of 10,580 personnel nationwide have been mobilized for emergency duty to manage the situation.

This snowfall is expected to continue until the afternoon of January 11. The forecasted snow accumulation is 3 to 8 centimeters (with some areas exceeding 10 centimeters) in coastal Jeonnam, and an additional 1 to 5 centimeters in Gwangju and inland Jeonnam.

An official from the Meteorological Administration stated, "As heavy snow is expected to continue, especially along the Jeonnam coast, thorough preparations should be made to prevent the collapse of structures such as greenhouses. With low temperatures, there will be many icy and slippery roads, so please pay special attention to traffic safety and pedestrian safety."