Ministry of the Interior and Safety Activates Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters for Heavy Snow from 3rd to 4th... Emergency Duty Level 1 Initiated

Guidance for Quick Return in the Capital Area, Increased Public Transport, and Focused Management on Snow Removal of Vulnerable Roads

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] The Ministry of the Interior and Safety announced that, with heavy snow forecasted in the Seoul metropolitan area and other central regions from the evening of the 3rd to the early morning of the 4th, it will activate Level 1 of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters as of 4 p.m. on the 3rd and begin emergency duty.

In response to the preliminary heavy snow warning issued early that morning for Seoul, the metropolitan area, and Gangwon Yeongseo, the Ministry held an emergency countermeasure meeting involving relevant central ministries and local governments. The meeting focused on guiding early return home during rush hour, increasing public transportation services, snow removal and ice control measures on vulnerable roads, and public communication strategies such as disaster text messages.

In particular, for the metropolitan area, snow is expected to start falling from 6 p.m., with the heaviest snowfall forecasted between 9 p.m. and 3 a.m. the next day. Accordingly, citizens are advised to return home early, and if necessary, public transportation services will be increased or intervals between services adjusted.

Additionally, snow removal equipment and vehicles will be pre-positioned on vulnerable roads, and anti-icing materials will be pre-applied to prepare for road freezing. Rapid traffic control and information dissemination to navigation service providers will be implemented for habitual congestion and accident-prone areas. Thorough snow removal will be conducted on mountain passes, highway entrances and exits, and boundary roads. Weather updates and public safety instructions such as using public transportation, driving at reduced speeds, and maintaining safe distances will be expanded through various media including disaster broadcasts and disaster text messages (CBS), focusing on areas under heavy snow warnings.

Kim Hee-gyeom, Director of the Disaster Safety Management Headquarters at the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, emphasized, “It is important to pre-position snow removal equipment and materials considering the snowfall timing, thoroughly carry out snow and ice removal operations to prevent road freezing in the early morning hours tomorrow, and promptly provide weather updates and safety instructions to the public through disaster texts and broadcasts.” He urged, “We ask citizens to return home early and use public transportation before the peak snowfall period today.”

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