The Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) issued a heavy snow alert for the Seoul area on Monday morning, and by 9 a.m. the capital had 17.3 cm of snow.

Heavy snow also affected nearby metropolitan areas, with an advisory also issued for Incheon, which saw 19 cm, and Gyeonggi Province, which saw 16.4 cm by 9 a.m.

People walk through heavy snow on Monday morning. /Newsis

KMA predicted the capital will get another 10 cm of snow before it stops snowing in the evening. Mountainous areas in Gangwon Province are forecast to see up to another 20 cm of snow.

The freezing weather is expected to last throughout the week, with Seoul's lowest temperature to fall to -12 degrees Celsius on Tuesday.