Full Breakdown
Seoul Faces Traffic Chaos Amid First Snowfall of the Season
12/5/2025, 11:11:49 PM
Heavy Snowfall and Immediate Impact
On the evening of December 4, 2023, Seoul experienced its first significant snowfall of the season, with accumulations exceeding 6 centimeters in some areas. This sudden weather event led to treacherous black-ice conditions, causing widespread traffic disruptions across the metropolitan region. By the morning of December 5, city authorities had lifted traffic controls on 37 major road sections, including the Inner Ring Road and Gangbyeonbuk-ro, after two hours of heavy snow had crippled vehicle flow and left parts of the capital gridlocked.
Emergency Response and Traffic Disruptions
The snowfall prompted a heavy snow advisory issued at 6 p.m. on December 4, which was lifted shortly after, but the accumulation continued to hinder the evening commute. In Gyeonggi Province, police reported over 1,900 weather-related emergency calls between 5 p.m. and 5 a.m. the following day, including more than 1,000 traffic disruption reports and 732 requests for snow removal. Notably, 166 traffic accidents were logged, although no major casualties were reported. Incidents included a multi-vehicle pileup involving six cars on the Bongdam–Gwacheon Expressway and a truck accident that temporarily blocked lanes on the Gyeongbu Expressway.
Measures Taken to Alleviate Congestion
To mitigate the impact of the snow, the Seoul government increased subway operations by adding 20 additional train trips during peak hours and extended bus frequency intervals by 30 minutes. De-icing chemicals were deployed on major routes, and snow removal efforts were intensified on sidewalks and smaller neighborhood roads. The Korea Railroad Corporation also added 13 extra trains across five lines, including Seoul Subway Line 1, to facilitate the morning commute on December 5.
Criticism and Opposition
Despite the efforts to manage the situation, some commuters expressed frustration over the delays and inadequate preparations for the snowfall. The suddenness of the weather event caught many off guard, leading to significant traffic congestion and stranded vehicles throughout the night.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
While reports indicate that no major injuries occurred due to the traffic incidents, the exact number of minor injuries remains unclear. Additionally, the effectiveness of the city's response measures has been questioned by some residents, suggesting a need for improved preparedness for future snow events.
This snowfall incident underscores the challenges urban areas face during extreme weather conditions and the importance of effective emergency response strategies.
