The season's first heavy snowfall struck Seoul and surrounding areas on Thursday, December 4, prompting authorities to issue an emergency disaster alert. With accumulation exceeding 5 centimeters per hour, traffic disruptions were anticipated, including the postponement of a football match. On Friday, December 5, subway and bus services were increased to manage the fallout.
Heavy snow began falling late in the afternoon on December 4 in Seoul and Gyeonggi Province. The state weather agency reported accumulation exceeding 5 centimeters per hour, with up to 5 cm of snowfall recorded by 7 p.m. in the Seoul metropolitan area, eastern Gangwon Province, and west-central South Chungcheong Province. The government issued a disaster alert to warn of potential traffic disruptions during the evening commute and elevated the heavy snowfall warning from "attention" to "caution." The interior ministry activated the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters at Level 1 alert.
Vehicles crawled slowly on major expressways, and some roads were closed for safety reasons. Snow or rain was forecast for central regions through the night, with the cold snap expected to continue through Friday. Amid these conditions, the first leg of the K League promotion-relegation playoffs between Bucheon FC 1995 and Suwon FC at Bucheon Stadium, 20 kilometers west of Seoul, was postponed due to snow. Scheduled for 7 p.m. on December 4, the match was delayed as snow blanketed the pitch two hours before kickoff and ultimately canceled. It will now start at 7 p.m. on December 5 in Bucheon. The second leg, originally set for 4:30 p.m. Sunday at Suwon Stadium, 30 kilometers south of Seoul, will have its schedule finalized on Friday, with Monday a likely option to allow rest. The winner advances to K League 1 next year, while the loser drops to K League 2.
Bucheon FC, which joined the second division in 2013, reached the playoffs for the first time after finishing third this season and defeating Seongnam FC in a goalless draw. Suwon FC, finishing 11th in K League 1, has won promotion-relegation playoffs in 2015 and 2023.
On Friday morning, December 5, the Seoul metropolitan government increased subway runs by 20 during the rush hour and extended peak bus dispatch by 30 minutes to ease traffic. All road closures were lifted overnight.
