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On the 20th, when a cold wave advisory was issued across the entire Chungbuk region, the water in the fountain in front of a cafe in Cheongju City was frozen solid. Photo by Yonhap News

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On the 20th day of Daehan according to the solar calendar, citizens are walking against strong winds on a street in Masanhappo District, Changwon City, Gyeongsangnam-do. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

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On the 20th, when a cold wave swept through, a blue sky stretched over the Hwaseong Fortress Changryongmun Gate in Suwon City, Gyeonggi Province, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Photo by Yonhap News

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On Daehan day according to the solar terms, merchants at Jungang Market in Wansan-gu, Jeonju-si, Jeollabuk-do, are steaming corn and waiting for customers despite the biting cold weather. Photo by Yonhap News.

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On January 20, which marks Daehan (Major Cold) on the traditional calendar and falls on a Tuesday, a severe cold wave swept through the country.

According to the Korea Meteorological Administration, as of 5 a.m., the temperatures in major regions were as follows: Seoul -10.5°C, Incheon -11.8°C, Suwon -9.7°C, Chuncheon -11.1°C, Gangneung -4.1°C, Cheongju -8.7°C, Daejeon -8.6°C, Jeonju -7.7°C, Gwangju -4.9°C, Jeju 1.3°C, Daegu -4.5°C, Busan -1.4°C, Ulsan -3.2°C, and Changwon -2.6°C. The highest temperatures during the day were forecast to range from -4°C to 7°C.

Due to the influx of cold air from the north, morning temperatures across most regions dropped by about 10 degrees compared to the previous day, and daytime temperatures are expected to remain below freezing for the time being, resulting in very cold conditions. Strong winds will make it feel even colder. In Seoul, the wind chill is expected to drop to -17°C. This cold wave is forecast to continue through the weekend.

In the southern coastal areas of Gangwon and the eastern coast of North Gyeongsang, less than 1 cm of snow is expected during the morning. The western coasts of South Chungcheong and Jeolla, as well as Jeju Island, may see snow flurries late at night.

Fine dust levels are expected to remain 'good' across all regions thanks to smooth atmospheric dispersion.

Wave heights are forecast to be 1.0 to 3.5 meters in the East Sea, 1.0 to 3.0 meters in the West Sea, and 0.5 to 2.5 meters in the South Sea. In offshore waters (up to about 200 km from the coastline), wave heights are expected to reach 1.5 to 5.5 meters in the East Sea, 1.5 to 5.0 meters in the West Sea, and 1.0 to 4.0 meters in the South Sea.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety raised the cold wave disaster alert level from 'Attention' to 'Caution' as of 5 p.m. the previous day, anticipating that the cold wave will continue in most regions nationwide until January 25. This is a proactive measure in response to cold wave advisories being issued in 120 out of 183 special alert zones nationwide.

With the elevation of the cold wave crisis alert to 'Caution,' both central and local governments have activated step-by-step emergency response systems. Fire departments, police, and local governments are working together to operate emergency management systems focused on vulnerable hours such as nighttime and early morning. Monitoring activities for groups vulnerable to the cold, such as the homeless and elderly living alone, have been intensified, and protective measures such as the distribution of winter supplies have been strengthened. Efforts are also being made to prevent cold damage to agricultural and fisheries products and to protect water facilities, while checking electricity supply conditions to meet increased heating demand and minimize inconvenience in daily life. All available media are being used to disseminate public guidelines for coping with the cold wave, including checking weather information, refraining from going out, wearing scarves when outdoors, and taking preventive measures against frozen water pipes.