![Rain falls near Myeong-dong in Jung-gu, Seoul, on Friday. [Yonhap]](https://wimg.heraldcorp.com/news/cms/2026/06/20/news-p.v1.20260620.7169f62579154d5b948454cd38e2dc0b_P1.jpg)
South Korea braced for heavy rainfall of up to 200 millimeters on Saturday, with authorities urging the public to take extra precautions against weather-related hazards.
According to the Korea Meteorological Administration, skies will remain mostly overcast across the country throughout the day, with rain expected in most regions through the evening. The Greater Seoul area, central regions and the central and northern parts of North Gyeongsang Province will see rain continuing into late night. Mountain areas and the eastern coast of Gangwon Province are expected to remain wet through Sunday morning.
Gusty winds, thunder and lightning may accompany the rainfall in affected areas. Particularly intense bursts of rain in short periods raise the risk of flooding, facility damage and safety accidents.
Gangwon Province's mountain areas and eastern coast face the heaviest accumulation, with 50 to 200 millimeters forecast. Seoul, Incheon, Gyeonggi Province, inland Gangwon, Daegu and North Gyeongsang Province can expect 30 to 80 millimeters, while Busan, Ulsan and South Gyeongsang Province are forecast to receive 20 to 80 millimeters. Daejeon, Sejong, South Chungcheong Province and North Chungcheong Province are expected to see 20 to 60 millimeters; Jeju Island, 5 to 80 millimeters; Gwangju, South Jeolla Province and North Jeolla Province, 5 to 20 millimeters; and the West Sea Five Islands, 5 to 40 millimeters.
Strong wind advisories are already in effect for the Jeolla coastal areas, the South Gyeongsang Province coastline and most of Jeju Island, where gusts of up to 70 kilometers per hour are expected through the afternoon. A strong wind advisory may also be issued for the Gangwon eastern coast from the afternoon onward.
Even in areas not under advisories, gusts of around 55 kilometers per hour are anticipated, and residents are advised to secure signage, vinyl greenhouses and other outdoor structures.
Maritime conditions are also deteriorating. Squalls, thunder and lightning are forecast over the South Sea and East Sea, with rough waves posing risks to vessels navigating or fishing offshore.
Wave heights are expected to reach 1.0 to 5.0 meters in East Sea coastal waters, 0.5 to 3.0 meters in Yellow Sea coastal waters and 1.0 to 3.0 meters in South Sea coastal waters. In open waters, swells could climb to 1.0 to 5.5 meters in the East Sea, 1.0 to 3.5 meters in the Yellow Sea and 1.5 to 3.5 meters in the South Sea.
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