Seoul Braces for Poor Air Quality as Snow and Rain Hit Eastern Korea
The Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) warned of deteriorating air quality in the Seoul metropolitan area and nearby provinces this morning, with fog reducing visibility in western and inland regions. A weather system is forecast to bring rain or snow to the Gangwon region, the eastern coast, and mountainous areas from Thursday the 12th into Friday afternoon the 13th.
Snow is expected to accumulate mainly in the Gangwon mountains, with 5 to 15 centimeters anticipated and some places exceeding 20 centimeters. On the northern part of Gangwon’s east coast, 1 to 3 centimeters are projected for the 13th, while the central Gangwon east coast may see around 1 centimeter. Ulleungdo and Dokdo could register 3 to 8 centimeters, and the northeastern mountains of North Gyeongsang are expected to gather 1 to 5 centimeters.
In terms of rainfall, Gangwon’s east coast and mountains are forecast to collect 5 to 20 millimeters. Inland areas such as Daejeon, Sejong, and southeastern Chungcheong and parts of Chungcheongbukdo are expected to see around 1 millimeter on the 12th, with similar small amounts in parts of Jeollanam and Jeollabukdo. The eastern coast and the eastern parts of Gyeongsang, including Ulleungdo and Dokdo, are also projected to receive 5 to 20 millimeters, while Busan and Ulsan may see 5 to 10 millimeters and other inland areas around 5 millimeters.
Forecasters cautioned that thunder and lightning could accompany the precipitation in the Gangwon and Gyeongsang regions, and some areas may experience hail. South Korea’s inland roads are likely to become slick as heavy, wet snow and fog reduce visibility, with gusts of up to about 55 kilometers per hour in parts of Gangwon, Gyeongsang, and Jeju.
Temperature is expected to be chilly, with morning lows between -3 and 5 degrees Celsius and daytime highs from 7 to 14 degrees. A notable diurnal swing is forecast later in the period, with the 13th in Jeollanam inland and the 14th across inland areas bringing day-to-night temperature differences of around 15 degrees Celsius.
Air quality is forecast to be “poor” in Seoul, Incheon, southern Gyeonggi, Chungcheong, Jeonbuk, and Jeolla regions, while other areas are expected to be “moderate.” Late in the day, a cleaner northeast airflow could gradually improve eastern regions to a “moderate” level, although western areas may remain in the poor range for longer.
Why this matters beyond Korea: for U.S. readers, the forecast highlights how winter weather and air quality in a major industrial hub can disrupt transportation, logistics, and supply chains. Korea is a key exporter of semiconductors, consumer electronics, vehicles, and components, with major ports like Busan and rail-and road networks that connect to global manufacturing and shipping lines. Snow, fog, and high winds can slow port operations, delay shipments, and affect production schedules in electronics and auto plants that depend on just-in-time delivery. On the health front, urban air-quality episodes influence corporate risk management, workforce productivity, and public-health policy discussions that also involve regional environmental cooperation with neighboring countries.