The Korea Meteorological Administration said that the monsoon season officially began in the central region of South Korea on July 1, 2024 [2].

This transition marks the start of the annual rainy season for the country's interior, increasing the risk of flash flooding and landslides across the central provinces. The shift follows the arrival of summer rains in Jeju the previous day.

Weather officials issued heavy-rain warnings for Jeju Island and the South-Jeolla coastal area [1]. A more severe heavy-rain warning was specifically designated for the mountainous regions of Jeju, where conditions are most volatile [1].

Rain clouds intensified over Jeju and spread southward and northward due to a stationary front moving toward the north [1]. This system pushed precipitation into the southern regions before reaching the southern parts of the Chungcheong area [1].

In the mountainous areas of Jeju, the intensity of the rainfall has been particularly severe. Officials said that very strong rain is concentrating in these areas, reaching approximately 40 mm per hour [1].

"The first summer monsoon rain that started in Jeju yesterday has expanded to the south, and as rain clouds move up to the southern Chungcheong region, the Korea Meteorological Administration announced a moment ago that the monsoon has officially started in the central region," said caster Won Ida [1].

Won Ida said that caution is required in the Jeju mountains, where the heavy-rain warning is in effect and intense precipitation is occurring [1].

“The central region officially entered the monsoon season on July 1, 2024.”

The official declaration of the monsoon in the central region signifies a shift in the national weather pattern, moving the risk of extreme precipitation from the southern islands to the mainland's agricultural and urban centers. With rain intensity hitting 40 mm per hour in some areas, the focus of emergency management now shifts to preventing infrastructure failure and managing water levels in the central provinces.