The safety ministry held an emergency meeting to discuss response measures to the heavy snow in the forecast nationwide through this weekend.

The meeting was presided over by acting Minister of the Interior and Safety, Ko Ki-dong.

According to the ministry, heavy snowfall alerts were issued for six cities and provinces late Friday, with Hwacheon County in Gangwon Province reporting nine-point-eight centimeters of snow and the city of Pocheon in Gyeonggi Province reporting nine centimeters.

The central Chungcheong and southeastern Gyeongsang regions have also been hit with heavy snow since Saturday morning.

To prevent possible damage from the snow, the acting minister called for thorough operations of snow removal on roads, highways, tunnel entries and bridges.

He also ordered frequent inspections of greenhouses, cattle shed, and aging structures, and to take evacuation and other control measures upon detection of danger.