Seven Days Early: Han River Freeze 2026 Declared Amid Seoul Cold Snap

Winter's grip has tightened on Seoul much earlier than expected. On January 3, 2026, weather authorities officially declared the Han River frozen for the first time this season. The announcement comes as a sustained cold wave continues to plunge temperatures across the capital, halting the river's flow a full week ahead of schedule.

Han River Freeze 2026: Breaking Down the Meteorological Data

According to the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA), this winter's first freeze arrived seven days earlier than the historical average of January 10. The contrast with last year is even more stark; in the 2024-2025 season, the river didn't freeze until February 9. Official freezing is only declared when thick ice forms in a 100-meter-long area between the second and fourth piers of the Han River Bridge.

Severe Cold Wave Impacts the Peninsula

The bridge, which connects Seoul's Yongsan and Dongjak wards, serves as the benchmark for the city's winter severity. With heavy snow forecast for southern regions and temperatures remaining significantly below freezing, experts warn that this early freeze could signal a particularly harsh mid-winter period for the nation's infrastructure and energy sectors.