Citizens are walking in the snow near Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul on the morning of the 18th when it snows. yunhap news
On the morning of the 18th, there was less snowfall in the Seoul area than expected, and there was no hurricane to go to work, but the city of Seoul is continuing the second phase of full-time work, which was operated at 6 pm the previous day.
Seo Jeong-hyeop “If necessary, I will call the police directly for cooperation.”
The Seoul Metropolitan Government said on the 18th that “weather conditions can change rapidly at any time, and snowfall is forecasted in the afternoon, so we are maintaining the second stage of emergency.” “The intention is to respond more proactively after experiencing heavy snowfall on the 6th.”
Previously, the Meteorological Administration issued a heavy snow warning throughout Seoul at 9:40 am on the day. At 11 am, heavy snow warnings were issued in the metropolitan area, Yeongseo, Gangwon, the mountainous area of Gangwon, the Chungcheong area, the Jeolla area, and the inland of Gyeongsang. “The Meteorological Administration predicts that there will be snowfall in Seoul in the afternoon, and we are preparing for the second stage of snow removal measures,” said Ha Hyun-seok, head of the road management department in Seoul.
Influences such as sudden change in weather and apology for authority
A snowplow is waiting on Sejongno, Seoul on the afternoon of the 17th when a heavy snowfall warning was announced in the metropolitan area. yunhap news
Seoul’s more active response to this heavy snow forecast is also influenced by criticism that it failed to properly perform snow removal during heavy snowfall on the 6th. An official from Seoul said, “It is not for the staff in charge to apologize directly to Seoul Mayor Seo Jeong-hyup (for the snow removal work on the 6th). We are responding by improving the system internally and reinforcing the person in charge.” said.
Prior to that, when it was pointed out that “the response to snow removal was insufficient,” he held a briefing on the 8th and said, “I deeply apologize for causing great inconvenience and concern to citizens.” Since then, acting agency Seo said that he ordered the staff with the intent of saying, “Even if you proceed with a large plan separately, fix it as soon as possible, and get the one to receive cooperation.”
On the afternoon of the afternoon of the 8th, Seo Jeong-hyup, acting mayor of Seoul, is giving a briefing to announce the position of the Seoul Metropolitan Government on snow removal measures. Newsis
Accordingly, the city of Seoul is making careful judgments about the situation so that the heavy snow crisis on the 6th is not repeated on the 6th due to the’three disasters’ of emergency heavy snow, sub-zero cold, and the way home from work. According to the Seoul Metropolitan Government, the first stage of snow removal measures is usually organized by the manager in charge and the second stage is organized by the head of the department in charge, but the meeting on the 17th was organized by Kim Hak-jin, the second vice mayor of the administration.
“It’s not snowing, but snow removal?”… “It’s not sprinkling”
In relation to the pre-applied snow removal agent on the day before the day when it didn’t snow, Manager Ha said, “It is not sprinkled with preemptive action.” “There was a forecast that it would snow at 3 pm on the 17th,” he said. “It took about an hour to an hour and a half to proceed from Paju, Ganghwa, Incheon, Yeongheungdo and Hwaseong, where the snow is west, to Seoul. He added that it was reported to have snow-repellent.”
The Seoul Metropolitan Government explained, “There are complaints regarding the application of snow removal agents due to environmental reasons, but safety is more important in heavy snow situations.” On this day, about 9000 workers, 1,000 snow removal equipment, and 2,000 tons of snow removal materials are being put into the city’s main roads.
Reporter Eunkyung Choi [email protected]