Korean peninsula braces for heavy snowfall, risking travel and supply-chain disruptions
A wintry system is forecast to sweep across the Korean Peninsula on Friday, bringing a cold start and a wide temperature swing through the day. The eastern mountains and nearby areas in Gangwon Province are expected to receive the heaviest snowfall, while rain or snow is possible along the eastern coast and in inland southern regions.
In Gangwon’s mountainous zones, snowfall is projected at 5 to 15 centimeters, with several spots potentially exceeding 20 centimeters. The east coast is likely to see 1 to 3 centimeters, while Ulleungdo and Dokdo could accumulate 3 to 8 centimeters. Snow is also forecast for northeastern parts of North Gyeongsang Province (1 to 5 cm), with the northeastern coast and Ulleung less than a centimeter in some areas.
Overall precipitation is anticipated to total 5 to 20 millimeters in the east coast and mountain regions, with lighter amounts of about 1 millimeter or less in most inland areas of the central and southern regions. Busan and Ulsan on the southern coast could see about 5 to 10 millimeters, while Daegu and nearby inland areas are expected to receive around 5 millimeters.
Travelers should watch for sharply reduced visibility where snow falls and for icy patches on roads. Some areas could experience fog with visibility below 1 kilometer in the early morning, especially in the Chungcheong and southern inland regions. Strong winds are possible, with gusts around 55 kilometers per hour across parts of Gangwon, the Gyeongsang region, and Jeju Island.
Skies are expected to be generally clear in the central regions in the morning but become mostly cloudy later in the day. The southern regions and Jeju Island may have partly cloudy conditions, while the east coast remains largely cloudy.
Temperatures will swing from morning lows of -2 to 4 degrees Celsius to daytime highs of 6 to 14 degrees. In major cities, morning readings are forecast around 2 degrees in Seoul and Incheon, with afternoon highs near 12 degrees; Chuncheon could see a -1 degree start with about 11 degrees by afternoon, while Gangneung may start around 3 degrees and reach about 7 degrees. Busan is expected to range from around 4 to 11 degrees, Jeju from roughly 7 to 12 degrees.
Air quality is anticipated to be good to moderate nationwide, though the Honam region and Jeju may see temporarily poorer conditions in the pre-dawn hours.
Why this matters beyond Korea: A significant snowfall and wind event in eastern Korea can disrupt road transport, air travel, and logistics that connect East Asia with the United States. Korea is a major exporter of semiconductors, electronics, and automotive parts; weather-driven delays in inland transport or on shipping routes through major ports can ripple through global supply chains and affect schedules for manufacturers and retailers in the United States. The forecast also highlights how winter weather can influence energy demand, tourism, and regional markets in a critical U.S. ally and partner in technology, defense, and trade. For readers, understanding Korea’s weather patterns provides context for potential delays in components, consumer goods, and vehicle shipments that cross the Pacific.