Record-setting snowfall blankets Seoul

SEOUL, Jan. 4 (Yonhap) -- Record-breaking snowfall pounded Seoul and neighboring
areas on Monday, paralyzing road traffic in and around the capital city and
triggering a mass cancellation of domestic flights and delays in international
flights.

A total of 28.5 centimeters of snow was recorded in Seoul as of 2 p.m., marking
the largest single-day precipitation since the nation began tracking such data in
1937, according to the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA).
The previous record was set on Jan. 28, 1969 when 25.6 centimeters of snow fell.
"It can be said that today's snowfall in the Seoul region is the heaviest in some
100 years," an official at KMA, the state-run weather forecast agency, said. "The
snow showers are expected to spread to other regions in the country through early
next morning."
With the unusually heavy snow and sub-zero temperatures leaving the city's main
highways icy, heavy traffic jams and several collisions were reported from the
early morning hours in Seoul, causing distress to commuters on their first work
day of the new year.
Several ministers were late for the new year's first Cabinet meeting presided
over by President Lee Myung-bak at the presidential office Chong Wa Dae on Monday
morning.
All 42 flights going out of Gimpo Airport, including two international flights to
Tokyo and Osaka, were canceled as of 10 a.m. as the first mass cancellation of
flights since heavy snowfall hit the country in 2001. It was the first time since
snowstorms in January 2001 that the airport canceled scheduled takeoff of all
flights.
Several international flights from Incheon International Airport, located in the
western outskirts of Seoul, were also delayed for hours due to the icy airstrip.
Many commuters gave up on driving their own cars, flocking to subway and bus
stations, with some even choosing to ride bicycles through the swirling snow.
"Driving conditions were extremely hazardous," said Lee Ho-yoon, who drove across
Seoul's Han River, linking the city's south and north regions, to work. "It took
more than twice the time it usually takes to work. The cars were practically
crawling on the roads."
Government officials were not exempted from the commuting chaos with many
ministers being late for the first Cabinet meeting of the year presided over by
President Lee. The time for the meeting was originally scheduled for 8 a.m. but,
due to the snowfall, rescheduled for 8:20 a.m. But five ministers including
Unification Minister Hyun In-taek whose office is just across the street from the
presidential office were late for the meeting.
Although Seoul Metro increased the frequency of trains to meet the surge in
demand for public transportation due to heavy snow, trains on the busiest No. 1
and 2 subway lines suffered delays due to malfunctions, causing distress to
commuters.
Freezing temperature and ice on the rails appear to have caused the temporary
malfunctions, metro officials said.
"I waited for more than 15 minutes and still could not transfer to a No.2 line
subway," said office worker Kim Yoo-jung, 28.
With the temperature plunging to minus 6.9 degrees Celsius, most roads will
remain icy all day to further inconvenience commuters returning home in the
evening, weather officials said. Snow was forecast to stop around 6 p.m.
All mountain roads leading to the downtown area remained closed throughout the
morning and authorities controlled traffic on hilly roads.
The Seoul Metropolitan Government said it has mobilized about 3,500 civil
servants and 1,200 vehicles to spray snow-melting calcium chloride on all major
roads and highways.
hayney@yna.co.kr
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