Seoul recorded its heaviest November snowfall since modern observations began in 1907 on the storm’s first day, when 16.5 centimetres fell. By 8 a.m. Thursday, the city’s snowfall measurement had reached 28.6 centimetres. Local totals were higher: Yonhap reported 47.5 centimetres in Yongin, south of Seoul, and 40.2 centimetres in the capital’s Gwanak Ward. The broader episode ranked as Seoul’s third-heaviest snowfall in the observation record.
The deaths were attributed to structural failures and road accidents. A snow-laden net collapsed at a driving range in Pyeongtaek, killing one person and injuring two. A protective structure at a car park also collapsed with a fatal result. In Yongin, a man in his 60s was killed by a falling tree while clearing snow. Reports counted four deaths connected to collapsing structures and two in traffic incidents. One crash involved a bus skidding on an icy road, killing one person and injuring 11 in a 53-vehicle pile-up.
Air and sea travel were heavily affected. Airlines cancelled 114 international and 28 domestic flights, while 76 ferry routes were suspended. Rail services also slowed as crews removed snow and branches from tracks. Korea Railroad Corporation planned ten extra trains on several capital-area subway routes, while Seoul extended its morning rush-hour frequency to ease crowding.
Schools and utilities were disrupted as heavy snow brought down trees and power lines. Nearly 1,300 schools were reportedly closed, and others adjusted opening times. In Seoul’s Mapo Ward, 750 households lost electricity and another 270 experienced water outages. The city mobilized more than 11,000 workers and nearly 20,000 pieces of snow-clearing equipment. Some road entrances were blocked as traffic slowed across the metropolitan area.
Warnings in Seoul were lifted during Thursday morning, but advisories remained in other regions. Forecasters expected snow to continue into Friday in Chungcheong and Jeolla provinces and into early Saturday in parts of Jeolla and Jeju. Reports linked the unusual intensity to relatively warm seas west of the Korean Peninsula meeting very cold air, conditions capable of feeding substantial moisture into the storm. The disruption extended beyond the capital. Ferry suspensions limited coastal travel, while snow advisories remained active in Wonju and Hoengseong in Gangwon Province. Authorities expected precipitation to ease first in Seoul, Incheon and northern Gyeonggi, then later in southern Gyeonggi and inland and mountainous parts of Gangwon.
