Korea issues nationwide rain advisory as spring showers bring poor air quality

A nationwide rainfall advisory is in effect for Korea as tomorrow’s weather brings widespread spring rain amid persistent fine dust. The day will bring reduced visibility in many areas, with air quality expected to be poor in parts of the country.

Temperatures are forecast to run near seasonal norms, with morning lows between 1 and 10 Celsius and daytime highs from 9 to 14 Celsius. The overall trend for the near term is for temperatures to stay at or slightly above typical levels for this time of year.

Rain is expected to begin in the pre-dawn hours in Chungcheong, Jeolla, the western part of Gyeongsang, and Jeju, then expand nationwide from morning to afternoon. The Korea Meteorological Administration said rainfall will gradually cover most regions through the day.

Rainfall totals vary by region: Seoul, Incheon, Gyeonggi, and Gangwon are forecast to see under 5 mm; Daejeon, Sejong, Chungnam, and Chungbuk 5–10 mm; Gwangju, Jeollanambu, and Jeonbuk 5–20 mm. The southern coast around Jeollanam and Busan, and southern parts of Gyeongsang, are expected to receive 10–30 mm, with Ulsan and inland Gyeongsang 5–20 mm, and Daegu and North Gyeongsang 5–10 mm. Jeju Island could see 10–50 mm, with mountainous areas likely to exceed 70 mm in some spots.

The weather also raises safety concerns for travel and outdoor activities. Wet ground, combined with a recent warm spell, can increase the risk of landslides, rockfalls, and collapsed retaining walls in vulnerable locations.

Air quality is a notable variable. The forecast calls for “bad” fine dust conditions in the Seoul metropolitan area, western Gangwon, and Chungcheong. Other regions are expected to be “normal,” though parts of Honam and the northern parts of Gyeongbuk and Gyeongnam may briefly experience poor air quality through the morning.

For international readers, the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) is Korea’s national weather service that issues daily forecasts and air-quality advisories. South Korea is a major hub for electronics manufacturing, including memory chips and consumer devices, with critical supply chains linked to global tech and manufacturing markets. Weather-driven disruptions to transport, manufacturing schedules, or shipment routes can reverberate beyond domestic borders, affecting suppliers and customers in regions such as the United States. While the forecast focuses on domestic conditions, tighter weather and air-quality windows can influence international logistics and industrial planning for weeks to come.