Storm bears down on Korea days after Jeju was hit hard

Some people stranded at Jeju International Airport on Tuesday due to heavy snow and strong winds continued to struggle to get off the island despite flights being resumed on Wednesday.

Passengers are getting on flights at Jeju International Airport on Wednesday morning after all flights were canceled the day earlier due to strong winds and heavy snow. [YONHAP]

Some people stranded at Jeju International Airport on Tuesday due to heavy snow and strong winds continued to struggle to get off the island despite flights being resumed on Wednesday.

“I have been waiting in line for five hours since 6 a.m. but have not been able to get a flight ticket,” a 67-year-old told JoongAng Ilbo at Jeju International Airport on Wednesday morning.

The queues were as long as 100 meters (328 feet).

“I regret not taking my relative’s advice to go back home early after coming to Jeju during the Lunar New Year holiday,” said a 30-year-old who was in line for a stand-by to Gimpo International Airport.

“I teach Taekwondo for a living and I feel so sorry for my students and fellow teachers for not being able to host my class.”

Despite the airport resuming normal operation, some flight schedules had to be postponed as planes arrived in Jeju later than expected, causing other connecting flights to be delayed, according to airline sources.

Around 40,000 people were trapped Tuesday at the airport as flights were canceled.

According to the airport, a total of 267 outbound and 257 inbound flights and another 11 international flights are scheduled for Wednesday.

“We expect roughly 70 to 80 percent of people stranded on the island to return home,” said a Jeju International Airport spokesperson.

Heavy snow is expected to continue to spread to the central regions including Seoul on Thursday morning.

Up to 7 centimeters (3 inches) of snow is expected to fall in Seoul between 12 a.m. to 3 a.m. Thursday, according to the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA).

Worried about major traffic, the Seoul city government will increase the number of public transportation including buses and subways between 7 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. and in the evening from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

“Our focus will be removing as much snow as possible with all available staff and equipment,” said a Seoul Metropolitan Government spokesperson.

The metropolitan government advised people to use public transportation instead of their personal cars in the morning.

Snow will start falling in the western region on Wednesday night and in the central region on Thursday dawn.

Korea has been suffering from an extreme cold wave since Tuesday with morning lows dipping to minus 16.8 degrees Celsius (1.7 degrees Fahrenheit) in Seoul, minus 15.8 degrees Celsius in Incheon and minus 19.4 degrees Celsius in Chuncheon, Gangwon, Wednesday.

The departure terminal at Jeju International Airport is packed with people on Wednesday morning. [YONHAP]

Temperatures will get warmer starting Wednesday afternoon and recover to normal temperatures by Thursday. But colder weather is expected again on Friday.

“Temperatures are expected to recover to normal levels after Saturday with the weather getting warm and cold back and forth,” said a spokesperson from the KMA.

With cold wave warnings issued across the country for two consecutive days, a total of 140 cases of utility meter freezing have been reported as of 11 a.m. Wednesday, according to the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters.

The freezing weather also led to death and accidents in the country.

One person in their 80s was found dead in a parking lot in Jincheon, North Chungcheong, at around 8 a.m. on Tuesday. The temperature in Jincheon at the time reached minus 14.9 degrees Celsius.

Another person in their 80s was found with severe frostbite on a trekking course on Mount Gwanggyo in Suwon, Gyeonggi, the same day.

Roads to six national parks and roads on some mountains have been blocked due to extreme cold and heavy snow since Tuesday.

All trekking courses on Mount Halla in Jeju have been restricted for two consecutive days. Over 75 centimeters of snow fell Wednesday morning on Ulleung Island, 67.2 centimeters in Goseong, Gangwon and 25.8 centimeters in Sokcho.

Strong winds prevented ferries from providing service in parts of the country since Tuesday. A total of 12 ferries nationwide were still restricted Wednesday afternoon.

BY CHO JUNG-WOO, CHOI CHOONG-IL [cho.jungwoo1@joongango.co.kr]