South Korea Braces for Rain, Snow, and Winds as Weather System Moves East

A low-pressure system moving eastward from the southwestern sea is forecast to bring rain across South Korea through Wednesday afternoon, according to the Korea Meteorological Administration. Rain is expected to begin in the southern Gyeonggi Province, Chungcheong, Honam, and the southern coast of Gyeongsang and Jeju, then expand to most regions by the afternoon. In higher inland areas, snow rather than rain is possible in places where temperatures remain low.

Rain totals vary by region. Jeju is forecast to receive 10–50 mm, with mountain areas potentially seeing more than 70 mm. The southern Jeolla provinces, Busan, and the southern coast of Gyeongsang are expected to accumulate 10–30 mm. Parts of Gwangju, northern Jeolla, northern Jeonbuk, Ulsan, and inland areas of Gyeongsang are in the 5–20 mm range, while the capital region (Seoul metropolitan area), Gangwon inland, Chungcheong, Daegu, and western and northern parts of Gyeongbuk are forecast to receive 5–10 mm. In the mountains of Gangwon at elevations above 1,000 meters, 1–5 cm of snow may accumulate.

Air quality is also in focus. The southern regions are expected to see improved fine-dust levels to “moderate” as dispersion widens, while central areas may continue to accumulate dust from both existing and domestic sources, keeping air quality at worse levels. The National Institute of Environmental Research projects that Seoul and southern Gyeonggi could see “very bad” air quality in the morning.

Temperatures will be around seasonal norms or slightly cooler. Morning lows are forecast at 1–10 Celsius, with daytime highs of 9–14 C. City-by-city, forecasts include Seoul 6–11 C, Incheon 5–9 C, Daejeon 6–11 C, Gwangju 7–13 C, Daegu 7–13 C, and Busan 10–14 C.

Coastal and offshore conditions require caution. In the Jeju south coast and the outer seas off the southern coast, winds are expected to strengthen in the afternoon to 25–60 km/h, with waves reaching up to about 3.5 meters. A gale warning may be issued, and Jeju could see gusts exceeding 55 km/h in the afternoon, underscoring the need for facility protection and safety planning for coastal and maritime operations.

The rain and wind matter beyond Korea because the country is a major global exporter of electronics, ships, and autos, with critical supply chains linking Seoul’s tech firms and regional manufacturers to markets in the United States and elsewhere. Weather disruptions can affect port operations in Busan and nearby logistics hubs, influence manufacturing schedules, and impact air quality in a globalized economy that depends on timely shipments of components and finished goods.

For readers unfamiliar with the geography, Seoul is South Korea’s capital and largest metropolitan area, located in the northwest; Busan is the country’s largest port city on the southeast coast; Jeju is a volcanic island off the southern coast and a popular tourist destination. The Korea Meteorological Administration issues daily forecasts and warnings, with the National Institute of Environmental Research providing air-quality assessments that influence both domestic policy and international environmental monitoring.