Proactive Preparations for Winter Heavy Snow and Cold Waves... '2026 Natural Disaster Workshop' Held

Around 340 central and local government officials attend workshop in Yeosu on November 2-3

The Ministry of the Interior and Safety is taking proactive steps to prevent damage from heavy snow and cold waves this winter, bringing together natural disaster officials from across the country.

Jongno-gu officials clear snow at Gwanghwamun Square in Jongno, Seoul, on March 18, when the city issued its latest-ever heavy snow advisory. March 18, 2025. Photo by Cho Yongjun.

The ministry said it held the “2026 Natural Disaster Workshop” from November 2 to 3 at the Yeosu Expo Convention Center in Jeollanam-do, with around 340 natural disaster officials from central government agencies and local governments in attendance.

The workshop was organized to prepare proactively for heavy snow and cold waves this winter and to strengthen coordination among relevant agencies and on-site response capabilities.

Participants first reviewed responses to extreme weather events this past summer, including storms and floods, heat waves, and droughts. They also shared best practices in disaster response from their respective regions and reaffirmed their commitment to safety.

Major plans by each agency were also discussed ahead of the main winter preparedness period. The Ministry of the Interior and Safety presented its plan for addressing heavy snow and cold waves this winter, followed by the Korea Meteorological Administration’s winter forecast and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport’s road snow-clearing measures. Participants reviewed how to ensure coordinated, field-oriented collaboration.

Kim Yong-gyun, head of the Natural Disaster Management Office at the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, said, “Heavy snow and cold waves in winter can cause major disruption to people’s daily lives and even lead to loss of life, so thorough advance preparation is especially important. We will do our utmost to ensure people can spend the winter safely by fostering close cooperation between central and local governments and strengthening on-site response capabilities.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.