People wrapped up head to toe as cold snap hits Korea

Описание: 전국을 강타한 한파… 언제까지 지속될까?

A bitter cold snap has hit the entire nation, driving temperatures down and sending people out bundled head to toe.
To tell us more, we have our correspondent Park Kun-woo out in central Seoul.
Kun-woo, you've been out since this afternoon.
How cold is it at the moment?

Dami, it's freezing cold after standing here for over an hour.
It's around minus eight degrees Celsius at the moment, but the feels-like temperature is minus-10.
And that comes as no surprise, as today marks "daehan" the last of the 24 solar terms in Korea, traditionally considered one of the coldest periods of the year.
Temperatures have plunged to below minus ten degrees Celsius, and in some regions, they have even dropped to minus 20.
Due to the sudden cold snap, people, especially commuters, are wrapped up in their extra-thick winter gear.

"It suddenly got really cold, so I had to wear a fleece underneath my clothes. I'm worried because a lot of people are catching the flu at the moment, and it doesn’t seem to go away easily."

"We traveled around. We just came from Vietnam. We went to Bangkok, but coming here, we had to purchase gloves, we had to purchase hats. It's been very, very changing compared to where we come from."


So what's the main cause of today's cold spell, and how long is it expected to last?

A meteorologist I spoke to says that a high-pressure system is behind the sudden cold, and predicts it to last for the rest of the week.


"A cold continental high-pressure system is affecting the Korean Peninsula, allowing cold air from higher levels of the atmosphere to move southward. This pattern is expected to continue through the week, keeping temperatures below freezing nationwide."

They added that the public is urged to remain cautious, as the increased use of heating appliances combined with strong winds and dry conditions has raised the risk of fires.
And as strong winds will make it feel even colder, older adults and those with weaker immunity are advised to limit outdoor activity and minimize outdoor work, taking extra precautions to protect their health from the low temperatures.

Are there any measures taken to prevent accidents from happening?

Yes, the Labor Ministry has urged construction sites to adjust working hours to prevent cold-related illnesses.
Vice Minister Ryu Hyun-cheol inspected a construction site in Seoul today, stressing the need to follow the government’s five cold-weather safety guidelines: wearing warm clothing, providing heated shelters, water, adjusting work hours, and calling emergency services if needed.
The ministry warns that sudden drops in temperatures can raise blood pressure and increase the risk of fatal accidents, calling on site managers to take preemptive measures to protect workers during cold wave alerts.
That's all I have for you now.
Back to you, Dami.

Alright, Kun-woo, thanks a lot for the report.
Do stay warm and safe.

#Weather #Cold_snap #Freezing #Winter #날씨 #추위 #한파 #겨울 #Arirang_News #아리랑뉴스

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2026-01-20, 20:00 (KST)