Seoul: Heavy snow and rain affected many parts of South Korea on Monday during the extended Lunar New Year holiday, prompting authorities to raise the weather alert and brace for possible disruptions. This year's Lunar New Year holiday, known as Seol, was extended to six days, lasting until Thursday, after the government designated Monday as a temporary national holiday.

According to Yonhap News Agency, snowfall of 10 to 20 centimeters is expected in the greater Seoul area, parts of Gyeonggi Province, and southern regions of the country, continuing through Wednesday. In some areas, such as Gangwon's inland and mountainous regions, eastern North Jeolla Province, and the southern island of Jeju, snowfall could exceed 30 centimeters. A snowfall advisory is issued when 5 centimeters or more of snow is expected within a 24-hour period.

More than 100 flights had been delayed at Jeju International Airport as of 6 p.m., with 10 of them canceled due to heavy snow and strong winds. The Ministry of Interior and Safety has activated the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters. Acting Interior Minister Ko Ki-dong instructed relevant agencies to mobilize all personnel and equipment to minimize damage from the heavy snowfall and implement measures to reduce traffic congestion as millions of people travel to their hometowns for one of the country's two major traditional holidays.

In response to the forecast, the Seoul metropolitan government has raised its alert to the second-highest level. A total of 9,685 workers have been mobilized, along with 1,424 snow-clearing vehicles and pieces of equipment, to ensure public safety and reduce disruptions.