On the 17th, a snow plow is busy clearing the snow on the sidewalk in Gyodong, Gangneung. /Courtesy of Yonhap News Agency

The Seoul city government announced that it will issue the first stage of snow removal emergency work starting from 9 p.m. on the 17th and deploy snow removal vehicles and equipment. This measure comes as 5 to 10 cm of snow is forecasted to accumulate in Seoul.

The city plans to use closed-circuit television (CCTV) installed on the snow precipitation route in the West Sea to detect snowfall signs and disperse snow removal agents. Additionally, over 5,200 personnel and more than 1,100 pieces of equipment will be mobilized to prepare for the snowfall. Road heating wires and automatic brine spraying devices will also be activated. The automatic brine spraying devices will spray de-icing fluid or salt water on the roads whenever it snows to melt the snow.

A Seoul city official noted, “Tomorrow morning (the 18th), temperatures are expected to drop below zero in some areas,” and urged citizens to use public transportation rather than private cars and to participate in clearing snow in front of their homes and shops.