Korean Weather System Brings Rain, Snow Across Central Regions; Ports May Be Disrupted
A weather system will bring cloudiness to much of central Korea and the Jeolla region on Thursday, with rain or snow forecast for parts of the East Sea coast and for inland areas in Gangwon, Gyeongsang, and Jeolla provinces. The forecast comes from the Korea Meteorological Administration.
In the morning, precipitation is expected along the Gangwon coastal and mountainous areas on the East Sea, the eastern coast of North Gyeongsang and the northeastern highlands, and inland in Busan, Ulsan, and eastern Gyeongsang.
From afternoon into the evening, rain is forecast in Daejeon, Sejong, southern inland Chungnam, central Chungbuk, eastern Jeolla, and other southern parts of Gyeongsang.
Through the 12th into the 13th, rainfall totals are projected at 5–20 millimeters for the eastern Gangwon coast and mountains as well as the northeastern East Sea region; 5–10 mm around Busan and Ulsan; and around 5 mm in Daegu and much of southern Gyeongsang.
Snow is expected mainly in the Gangwon mountains, with 5–15 cm anticipated and some areas possibly exceeding 20 cm; 1–3 cm is possible on the northern East Sea coast of Gangwon.
Temperatures are forecast to range from morning lows of -3 to 5 degrees Celsius and daytime highs of 7 to 13 degrees. The period is broadly near seasonal norms, with typical lows around -4 to 4 degrees and highs around 9 to 13 degrees for this time of year.
Sea conditions show East Sea front waves of 0.5 to 2.5 m, West Sea front 0.5 to 1.0 m, and South Sea front 0.5 to 2.0 m. Offshore, or about 200 kilometers from the coast, waves are expected to be 0.5 to 2.5 m in the East and South Seas and 0.5 to 2.0 m in the West. These conditions can affect shipping and coastal operations, including the Port of Busan, a major hub for global trade.
For U.S. readers, the weather matters because South Korea is a global supplier of semiconductors, automotive parts, and consumer electronics. Disruptions to inland transportation, rail and road networks, or port logistics can ripple through international supply chains, affecting timelines and pricing for tech and automotive sectors in the United States. The forecast also highlights how localized winter weather can influence energy demand and transportation networks in a region that plays a key role in global trade.
Context for non-Korean readers: Gangwon Province in Korea’s northeast is a mountainous region with winter resorts and coastal towns such as Sokcho and Gangneung. Busan is Korea’s largest port and a major global shipping gateway. Daejeon and Sejong are central administrative cities, while Jeju is a southern island popular with tourists. The East Sea is the body of water to Korea’s east, also referred to in some contexts as the Sea of Japan.