When snow piles up in winter and then melts and refreezes, it turns into black ice. Falls on slippery ice are very common and can cause serious injuries, so Korean law requires building owners, tenants, and managers to clear snow from the sidewalks, back alleys, and pedestrian paths around their buildings (Natural Disaster Countermeasures Act, Article 27). Clearing snow in front of your home or shop is not optional - it is a legal obligation, so please keep that in mind.

By When Do You Need to Clear It?

SituationDeadline
Snow stops during daytime hoursWithin 4 hours of the snow stopping
Snow falls overnightBy 11:00 a.m. the following morning
10 cm or more falls in a single dayWithin 24 hours of the snow stopping

If there is a heavy snowfall, you have up to 24 hours, so there is no need to panic. The exact rules can vary by area because each local district sets its own ordinance, so for the most up-to-date information please contact the Immigration Contact Center (1345) or your local district office (구청) or Korea Immigration Service office.

How Wide an Area Do You Need to Clear?

The width you are required to clear depends on the type of building:

  • Private home: Clear a path 1 metre wide along the sidewalk in front of your home.
  • Shop or commercial premises: Clear a path 1 metre wide along the sidewalk in front of your entrance.
  • General building: Clear the entire width of the sidewalk in front of the building.

Even clearing just one narrow path in front of your home is enough to let pedestrians pass safely.

What to Do When It Snows

At Home or at Your Shop

  • Clear snow from the road in front of your building and from your roof.
  • Even after clearing snow, the ground may still be icy, so sprinkle sand or a snow-melting agent (such as calcium chloride) on icy patches to prevent slipping.
  • If your home is an older building, check the condition of your roof, walls, water meter, and pipes in advance, and wrap them to keep them from freezing.

When You Go Outside

  • Wear flat-soled shoes or hiking boots with non-slip soles and warm gloves.
  • Do not put your hands in your pockets while walking - if you slip, you need your hands free to break your fall. Keeping your hands out can prevent much more serious injury.
  • Where possible, take public transport such as the subway or bus - it is the safest option in snowy conditions.

When Driving

  • Keep snow chains, jumper cables (booster cables), a shovel, and sand in your car as emergency snow supplies before winter arrives.
  • Before setting off, use your heater to fully defrost your windscreen, and make sure you remove all snow from the roof and bonnet of your car before driving.
  • On snowy roads, leave extra space between your car and the one ahead, and drive slowly. Take extra care near intersections and pedestrian crossings.

Free Snow-Clearing Boxes

A snow-clearing box (제설함) is a storage box containing tools you can use to clear snow - shovels, brooms, sand, calcium chloride, and so on. They are installed and maintained by the local district office and are free for anyone to use.

Where Can I Find One?

  • Near roads that freeze easily, such as overpasses, steep hills, shaded spots, and areas with a history of icing
  • Along busy commercial roads, near bus stops, and near subway stations
  • In back alleys and residential neighbourhoods

You can find the location of your nearest snow-clearing box on the Seoul Safety Hub (safecity.seoul.go.kr) website or by searching “제설함” (snow-clearing box) on a map app. If you are outside Seoul, check your local district office website or call 1345.

How Do I Use One?

  1. Open the box and take out the tools, sand, or snow-melting agent you need.
  2. Use them on the road in front of your home or workplace, especially on slopes.
  3. When you are done, clean the tools and put everything back where you found it.
  4. The contents of snow-clearing boxes are public property. Please do not take them home or use them for personal purposes.

Stretch Before You Start Clearing!

Shovelling heavy snow is surprisingly hard on your back and shoulders. Before you start, do a few light stretches to warm up your body, and remember to bend your knees rather than your back when lifting snow - this protects your lower back from strain.