"Will the Commute Home Be Okay Today?" Sudden 'Heavy Snow'... Citizens Feel 'Anxious'

Major Road Traffic Paralysis Due to Heavy Snowfall the Previous Day... Citizens Complain of Difficulties Commuting to and from Work

On the morning of the 7th, roads near Sadang Station in Seoul experienced traffic congestion due to snow that fell overnight. Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Suwan] Heavy snowfall across most regions nationwide, including the Seoul metropolitan area, has caused continuous damage in various locations. Despite the forecast of a heavy snow advisory, snow removal work on major roads was not properly carried out, exacerbating the confusion.

In particular, citizens have raised criticism against the complacent administration of local governments as the same situation repeated on the morning commute of the 7th, following being stranded on the roads during the evening rush hour the previous day. As a result, some citizens have expressed hopes for a safe commute home today, recalling the hardships they endured the day before.

According to the Korea Meteorological Administration, a heavy snow advisory was issued for the entire Seoul area on the 6th. From around 7 p.m. to dawn, 3.8 cm of snow fell across Seoul, marking the 35th highest snowfall on record. Additionally, significant snowfall was recorded in the Gyeonggi region, including 11.6 cm in Gwacheon and 9.0 cm in Hanam.

On the afternoon of the 6th, when a heavy snow warning was issued across Seoul, a citizen is crossing the crosswalk near Samseong Station in Seoul. / Photo by Yonhap News

Overnight, heavy snow fell in the central region, Jeolla area, inland Gyeongbuk, western inland Gyeongnam, and Jeju Island, leading to road closures and cancellations of flights and passenger ferries.

Especially due to the snow that began falling the previous night, traffic paralysis occurred and snow removal was not properly conducted by morning, forcing citizens to endure severe transportation inconveniences.

As the snow was not cleared in time, public dissatisfaction erupted. One commuter who left for work in the evening had to leave their vehicle in a nearby parking lot due to road congestion.

Kim (30), an office worker commuting in Seoul, said, "The roads were completely blocked by the sudden snowfall, so I wandered around and eventually parked my car near a subway station. Fortunately, there was a bus route home, but the bus crawled like a turtle, and it took three hours to finally get home," he lamented.

Kim also expressed frustration, saying, "There was definitely a forecast for snow, so I am angry that Seoul City did nothing."

On the night of the 6th when snow fell, vehicles on the Seoul Seobu Expressway were moving slowly due to the snow, forming a long queue during the evening commute.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

The morning commute was no different. Jung (27), who works in Jeonju, Jeonbuk, said, "The commute took longer than usual due to the snow overnight. Although the distance usually takes less than 20 minutes, it took well over an hour. Since snow removal was not done in the morning, speeds were limited to 15-20 km/h, almost crawling," he complained.

As a result, some citizens left their cars behind and used public transportation to commute, but they faced major inconveniences due to frequent breakdowns on subway Line 1 and the Gyeongui-Jungang Line. Delays caused many to be late for work.

Given the situation, concerns are rising that heavy snow this afternoon might cause further traffic congestion. Kim, a worker in his 40s, said, "Heavy snow suddenly fell last night, but no one around me anticipated it. I am worried that the same thing might happen again this afternoon," he expressed anxiously.

On the night of the 6th, a heavy snowfall covered the parking lot of an apartment in Haan-dong, Gwangmyeong-si, Gyeonggi-do. [Image source=Yonhap News]

The Korea Meteorological Administration forecasted that due to Arctic cold waves, the morning temperature in Seoul on the 8th will drop to -17 degrees Celsius. Snow accumulation of about 3 to 10 cm is expected in the metropolitan area excluding northern Gyeonggi and inland Chungcheong regions.

Meanwhile, Seoul City announced on the 7th that it is operating a 24-hour control room to ensure thorough snow removal following the issuance of a cold wave warning after the heavy snowfall. In response to the cold wave warning, the city is running the 'Comprehensive Cold Wave Support Situation Room,' composed of 25 autonomous districts and related organizations, including ▲Situation Control Team ▲Life Support Team ▲Facility Recovery Team ▲Crop Countermeasure Team ▲Rescue and First Aid Team.

Han Je-hyun, Director of Seoul City’s Safety General Office, emphasized, "Many citizens experienced great inconvenience due to the concentrated heavy snowfall in a short time combined with the evening rush hour traffic. We will do our best to ensure that citizens no longer face such inconveniences."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.