South Korea braces for weekend monsoon rains, Seoul to see first downpours Sunday

South Korea is bracing for a significant shift in weather as the monsoon season officially begins, with widespread rain expected across the country this weekend. The Korea Meteorological Administration has forecast that the stationary front, or monsoon front, will move northward, bringing heavy rainfall.

Starting Saturday, areas south of the Chungcheong province will be affected, with the rain expected to reach the Seoul metropolitan area by Sunday. This marks the first monsoon rain for the capital region this summer. The precipitation is predicted to continue nationwide on Monday.

Forecasters anticipate considerable rainfall, with Jeju Island potentially seeing 30-80mm, and mountainous areas receiving over 150mm. Other regions, including southern Jeolla province and the southern coast of Gyeongnam, are also expected to experience significant downpours. The forecast highlights the variability in expected rainfall across different parts of the country.