Korea's East Sea sees blizzard as Ulleungdo and Dokdo face snow, strong winds.
Cloudy skies brought scattered rain across much of South Korea today. The northeastern mountains and the East Sea coast are forecast to see rain or snow through tomorrow. Ulleungdo and Dokdo, the islets in the East Sea, remain under a blizzard advisory with up to 8 centimeters of snow expected. Winds on those islands are expected to stay strong, and seas in the southern part of the East Sea are forecast to be rough, with waves reaching around 3.5 meters.
Tomorrow, daytime temperatures are expected to be slightly cooler than today, and winds are likely to pick up, making conditions feel chillier overall. In the Gangwon mountain region, heavy snow is forecast to continue through tomorrow afternoon. Drivers are advised to watch for icy road surfaces as temperatures swing with the weather.
Regionally, Daegu and parts of the south will see morning lows near 2°C in Daegu and around -1°C in Gumi, with daytime highs ranging from about 10°C to 13°C. In the northern areas, Andong is expected to start near -1°C and Bonghwa near -2°C, with daytime highs around 7°C to 11°C. The eastern coastline may see Yeongdeok at around 3°C and Pohang at 4°C in the morning, while daytime temperatures in Gyeongju could reach about 9°C.
Maritime advisories remain in effect for Ulleungdo and Dokdo, which continue to face strong winds. A gale advisory covers the entire southern East Sea, and sea-state conditions are forecast to keep waves up to 3.5 meters, posing hazards for shipping and coastal activities.
Weekend outlook calls for a mild rebound in Daegu, with daytime highs around 15°C, but mornings and evenings will remain cool, continuing a notable diurnal temperature swing. By early next week, conditions are expected to feel more like spring across much of the country.
Why this matters beyond Korea: South Korea is a major hub for electronics manufacturing and global shipping, with critical ports such as Busan and Ulsan handling large volumes of trade. Winter-to-spring weather disturbances can disrupt factory schedules, halt or slow port operations, and affect global supply chains for electronics, autos, and components that feed U.S. manufacturers and consumers. Rough seas in the East Sea can also impact regional shipping routes connecting Korea with Japan and China, influencing inventory and delivery timelines for multinational companies. In addition, cold snaps and rapid temperature swings can affect energy demand and consumer behavior, with knock-on effects for markets and policy planning.
Context for non-Korean readers: Ulleungdo and Dokdo are small islets in the East Sea, an area also contested in regional diplomacy. In Korea, the body of water is commonly called the East Sea; international use often designates it as the Sea of Japan. The forecast here comes from KBS Daegu, a regional news bureau of the national broadcaster, reflecting localized weather alerts that feed into nationwide advisories.