A severe cold snap gripped South Korea on Friday, with morning low temperatures plunging to around minus 25 degrees Celsius in inland areas of the central region. 

The morning low in Seoul was minus 18-point-six degrees Celsius, the lowest in 35 years and the second lowest on record. 

At 5 a.m., the temperature in Seoul was minus 17-point-eight degrees, minus 20-point-nine degrees in Chuncheon, Gangwon Province, and minus eleven-point-four degrees in Busan.

The Korea Meteorological Administration(KMA) said the nation is unlikely to see the mercury rise above zero degrees in the afternoon, forecasting daytime temperatures for the greater Seoul area and the western parts of Gangwon Province to stay below minus ten degrees Celsius.  

However, the wind chill temperatures are likely to fall further due to strong winds. 

More snow is expected to hit Gwangju and parts of the Jeolla provinces, Jeju Island and Ulleung Island, where heavy snow advisories are in place. 

Mountain areas on Jeju Island, Ulleung Island and the Dokdo islets in the East Sea are forecast to receive up to or more than 50 centimeters of snow, while west coast areas in the Jeolla provinces are likely to have up to or more than 20 centimeters of snow through Saturday morning.