Seoul: Heavy snow blanketed South Korea's capital area for the second consecutive day Thursday, with up to 40 centimeters of snowfall seen in parts of Seoul. A heavy snow advisory was in effect in all of Seoul as the accumulated snowfall reached 40.2 cm in Gwanak Ward and 27.1 cm in Seongbuk Ward.According to Yonhap News Agency, Wednesday marked a historic day for Seoul as it experienced the heaviest November snowfall since modern weather observations began in 1907, with 16.5 cm of snowfall. This record snowfall coincided with the first snow of the season in the city, bringing traffic to a halt and causing significant disruptions. Authorities were prompted to block entry to some roads, including those in the eastern Gwangjin Ward, after a tree fell under the weight of the snow.The Korea Railroad Corp. reported that some subway lines were experiencing delays as workers were actively engaged in removing snow and branches from the tracks. To counter the delays and ease congestion during the morning rush hour , the company planned to deploy an additional 10 trains on subway lines in the capital area, including Line 1 and the Gyeongui-Central Line.Efforts to clear the snow were extensive, with the Seoul metropolitan government mobilizing more than 11,000 personnel and nearly 20,000 pieces of equipment to ensure roads remained passable. Additionally, during rush hour, subway operations were extended by 30 minutes both in the morning and evening to accommodate commuters, with services running from 7 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. and from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.The impact of the snowfall extended beyond Seoul, with heavy snow advisories issued in other parts of the country, including Chuncheon, Wonju, and Hoengseong in Gangwon Province.
- October 12, 2026
