On the morning of the 4th, when the perceived temperature in Seoul fell to minus 18.7 degrees. Office workers ventured out of their homes heavily bundled in padded jackets with fur hats and scarves. Market traders who started working early in the morning sighed, saying that business does not go well on extremely cold days, but they encouraged themselves to continue working.
According to the Korea Meteorological Administration, the lowest temperature recorded in Seoul that morning was minus 11.5 degrees. This is 5 degrees lower than the morning temperature for this time of year. With strong winds, the perceived temperature dropped to minus 18.7 degrees. The cold is expected to persist even during the day, with the highest temperature in Seoul forecasted to be minus 6 degrees.
Citizens encountered near Jamsil Station in Songpa District, Seoul, were mostly dressed warmly with padded jackets, masks, hats pulled down, and thick scarves. Kim (50) said, "Both my home and workplace are in Jamsil, but it is so cold outside that I walk through the underground passage to work," adding, "Once I came outside, I felt 'scared.'" Yoori (27), heading to Gongdeok-dong in Mapo District, remarked, "I sighed in relief when I entered Jamsil Station. The thought of exiting at Gongdeok Station scares me."
People waiting for the signal to change at the crosswalk at Gwanghwamun Sejong-daero intersection spoke to themselves, saying, "What's with this weather?" and "It's really too cold." As their breath misted in the air, some expressed amazement and blew out again. Kim (25), an intern at a corporation, stated, "Having to commute in this weather is tragic," adding, "It's so cold that I wore a fur hat I never use when going to the office and took out my UGG boots."
Traders at Garak Agricultural and Marine Products Wholesale Market, who start their day early, held heated auctions even amid the cold. Team leader Park Seok-cheol (55) said, "Whether it's cold or hot, I have to come out and work since it's my main job. Those who produce from the production areas have no holidays," adding, "Even in the cold, I have to come out to earn a living."
On the other hand, retail traders worried that if it gets too cold, business will not go well. A seafood trader, A (67), who was cleaning a lobster tank, shared, "When it's cold, customers don't come out, which makes it tough. On days like today, it's not fun (doing business)," sighing. Jang (32), a trader at the fruit market, remarked, "Perhaps because it's cold, there aren't many items or quantities available." They expressed disappointment when a customer left empty-handed, lacking persimmons of the required size.
Auction intermediary Lee Ha-neul (36) noted, "When the weather is this cold, there are no cars on the road, and sales decrease. It's definitely tough," stating, "The weather needs to be warmer." Park (72), who has operated a mobile coffee stand at Garak Market for 40 years, commented, "I've been doing this for 40 years, but today is really cold," adding, "It's cold, so there are no customers and no people, but we'll push through despite the cold."
Around 6 a.m. on that day, the lights began to turn on at Dongdaemun Market, but it was still quiet. A building manager in his 70s, B, moved between the inside and outside of the building. He explained, "Generally, I stand outside the building, but today it's unusually cold. There are no heaters outside, which makes it feel even colder."