111 flights canceled during Lunar New Year holiday as heavy snowfall hit South Korea

Heavy sea-effect snow blanketed South Korea on January 27 and 28, 2025, disrupting transportation for tens of millions during the Lunar New Year holiday travels.

Mount Halla on Jeju Island recorded 130 cm (51 inches) of snow on Tuesday, January 28, 2025, while Gangwon Province’s eastern counties recorded up to 40 cm (16 inches).

In Gyeonggi Province, which surrounds Seoul, cities such as Anseong and Pyeongtaek saw 25 cm (10 inches) of snowfall while Seoul’s southwestern Gwanak Ward recorded 13.7 cm (5.4 inches).

Snow-covered roads have led to multiple traffic accidents across the country. In Yongin, south of Seoul, a light-rail train service was disrupted for 2.5 hours before resuming operations at 11:10 LT (02:10 UTC) on Tuesday.

Major roads crossing Mount Halla were fully closed while the operation of 70 passenger ships on 56 sea routes was suspended. Some KTX high-speed train services were running at reduced speeds with the Gyeongbu, Honam, Gangneung, and central railway lines affected.

In Jeju, snowfall rates peaked at 5 cm (2 inches) per hour, prompting authorities to shut down roads leading to Mount Halla.

The Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) has issued multiple warnings, with forecasts predicting continued snowfall across several regions including Seoul, Chungcheong, and Jeolla provinces, through January 29.

The KMA predicts an additional 5 to 15 cm (2 to 6 inches) of snow in the island’s mountainous regions. Cities in Chungcheong and Jeolla provinces could receive between 5 and 10 cm (2 to 4 inches) of additional snowfall before conditions begin to ease.

The agency has placed multiple regions under cold wave warnings. Morning temperatures in Gangwon Province are expected to drop to -15 °C (5 °F), with daytime highs across the country ranging from -5 °C (23 °F) to 6 °C (43 °F).

In Seoul, Incheon, and Gyeonggi Province, an additional 3 to 8 cm (1.2 to 3.1 inches) of snow is expected through Wednesday. Other central and southern regions including Daejeon, Sejong, Gwangju, South and North Jeolla, and South Chungcheong provinces, could see snowfall accumulation reaching 15 cm (5.9 inches).

Several national parks including 20 major parks throughout country have been cordoned off because of safety concerns.

Meteorologists attribute the severity of this snowfall to interactions between cold air from the north and warmer waters in the West Sea (Yellow Sea). The sea surface temperature is currently 7 to 8 °C (45 to 46 °F), higher than normal for this time of year. The temperature difference has increased snow cloud formation leading to denser snowfall.

Seoul’s snowfall during the Lunar New Year has historically been minimal, with the heaviest previous accumulation recorded at 5.1 cm (2 inches) in 2022. This year, some areas of the capital could see up to 20 cm (8 inches), far exceeding previous records.

On Lunar New Year’s Day, January 29, temperatures are expected to drop further, with lows ranging from -12°C (10°F) to -1°C (30°F).

Authorities are urging residents to take precautions as icy roads and continued snowfall pose hazards. Travelers heading home for the Lunar New Year holiday have been advised to check transportation updates before departure.

The Korea Railroad Corporation and airline operators are monitoring conditions closely, with additional cancellations and delays possible if the snow persists.

Officials have warned of an increased risk of black ice on major highways in mountainous regions. Emergency services remain on high alert and authorities have deployed additional snow-clearing teams to keep essential routes open.

References:

¹ Heavy snow blankets Korea – The Korea Herald – January 28, 2025

² Heavy snow blankets Korea on Lunar New Year holiday – The Korea Times – January 29, 2025

³ Unprecedented heavy snow expected to blanket South Korea this Lunar New Year – THE CHOSUN Daily – January 27, 2025

Rishika Yadav

Rishika holds a Master’s in International Studies from Stella Maris College, Chennai, India, where she earned a gold medal, and an MCA from the University of Mysore, Karnataka, India. Previously, she served as a Research Assistant at the National Institute of Advanced Studies, Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, India. During her tenure, she contributed as a Junior Writer for Europe Monitor on the Global Politics website and as an Assistant Editor for The World This Week. Her work has also been published in The Hindu newspaper, showing her expertise in global affairs. Rishika is also a recipient of the Women Empowerment Award at the district level in Haryana, India, in 2022.

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