South Korea Braces for Heavy Snow in Gangwon, Risks to Supply Chains
South Korea is forecast to be mostly cloudy on Thursday, with Jeju Island as the exception. In the morning, rain or snow is expected along Gangwon Province’s east coast and in the mountainous areas, with some Gangwon highlands likely to see heavy snowfall of up to 20 centimeters. From the afternoon into the evening, rain is anticipated in Daejeon, Sejong, inland parts of South Chungcheong, northern Jeollabuk, eastern Jeollanam, and other areas of the Gyeongsang region. Jeju may experience light drizzle from night into early Friday.
Thunderstorms and lightning are possible along the Gangwon east coast and across parts of the Gyeongsang region, with a risk of graupel or hail in some areas. Residents and facilities managers are advised to secure structures and monitor weather updates for safety.
Where rain or snow falls, visibility can deteriorate and roads could become slippery, raising the need for caution in travel. In the Gangwon mountains, where significant snow has already accumulated, additional snowfall could create hazards and potential damage to infrastructure; property managers should take appropriate precautions.
As of 5 a.m., morning lows were expected at Seoul 1°C, Incheon 1°C, Suwon 0°C, Chuncheon -1°C, Gangneung 4°C, Cheongju 2°C, Daejeon 1°C, Jeonju 1°C, Gwangju 2°C, Daegu 3°C, Busan 5°C, and Jeju 6°C.
Daytime temperatures were forecast to reach Seoul 13°C, Incheon 12°C, Suwon 13°C, Chuncheon 12°C, Gangneung 8°C, Cheongju 12°C, Daejeon 12°C, Jeonju 13°C, Gwangju 13°C, Daegu 12°C, Busan 13°C, and Jeju 11°C.
Air quality is expected to be worse than normal in Seoul, Incheon, southern Gyeonggi, Chungcheong, Gwangju, and Jeollabuk regions, with other areas at average levels.
Why this matters to U.S. readers: Korea is a major hub for electronics manufacturing and global supply chains, including memory chips and display components. Winter weather that disrupts production, transportation, or port operations can ripple through the electronics sector and broader markets. The forecast highlights how weather events in an ally nation can affect manufacturing uptime, logistics, and regional resilience, with potential implications for U.S. companies and policymakers monitoring supply-chain stability and cross-border coordination.