Is Minus 10 Degrees Celsius in Seoul Just a Tease? The Coldest Place Hits a Bone-Chilling Minus 40 Degrees

Sakha Republic, Russia, the Coldest Region in the World
Oymyakon Hosts International Marathon Event at Minus 50 Degrees Celsius

[Asia Economy Reporter Ryu Jeong-min] As the December cold wave, known as the 'strongest cold wave,' hits the entire country, the temperature in Seoul dropped to minus 10 degrees Celsius on the 16th. With November's weather being warmer than usual, the December temperatures feel even colder.

As of 8:40 a.m. on the 16th, the temperature in Seoul is minus 9 degrees Celsius, with a wind chill of around minus 12 degrees. It is expected to be a weekend with a fierce Arctic cold wave, and this cold spell is forecasted to continue until the 19th.

Some regions consider minus 10 degrees, which made commuters tighten their collars, as a mild level of cold. One such place is the Sakha Republic in Russia, known as the coldest region on Earth. As the heartland of the Siberian cold wave, it holds various records related to extreme cold.

On the 15th, heavy snow warnings were issued in various parts of the central region, and citizens at Seoul Station were moving while being hit by falling snow. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

On the 16th, the capital of the Sakha Republic, Yakutsk, has a high temperature of minus 40 degrees Celsius. The low temperature drops to as low as minus 48 degrees. While minus 10 degrees already feels very cold, minus 40 degrees is a level difficult for ordinary people to imagine.

Oymyakon, considered the coldest inhabited village on Earth, is located in the Sakha Republic.

In 1926, temperatures reportedly dropped to minus 71.2 degrees Celsius. A monument symbolizing the cold was erected in Oymyakon at that time.

Although Oymyakon boasts temperatures so cold that it is difficult for humans to live, people still reside there, and children attend school. The title of the coldest village on Earth has turned it into a tourist destination. Every year, people from around the world visit Oymyakon to experience its extreme cold.

In fact, last January, a marathon full course and half course race was held in Oymyakon, with male and female marathoners from various countries including the United States and the UAE participating. The Oymyakon Marathon, titled 'the coldest international marathon in the world,' reportedly had 65 participants. The temperature during the marathon was said to have exceeded minus 50 degrees Celsius.

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