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Remote island trumps Seoul’s snow removal

Published: 08 Jan. 2010, 21:19

A snowplow manufactured by Germany’s Mercedes-Benz clears snow on Ulleung Island in the East Sea of Korea. Each vehicle, which can run on mountainous roads, costs 500 million won (442,500 dollars). The Ulleung County government uses three snowplows 24 hours a day to remove snow on the island in case of heavy snowfall. Provided by the Ulleung County government

Cars, taxis and buses moved freely this week on Korea’s biggest island in the East Sea, despite snowfall levels more than three times higher than Seoul’s.

Accumulated snowfall since Jan. 1 reached 90 centimeters on Ulleung Island as of Thursday. Seoul received 25.8 centimeters of snow in the same period. Island residents deal with heavy snow every year around this time, and the use of snow chains on vehicles is common.

Most residents wear either hiking boots with crampons or waders when walking around the island.

“Even without a legal requirement, most Ulleung residents voluntarily clear piled snow in front of their houses,” 51-year-old Park Jin-dong, who lives on the island, said. “Some 70 civil servants also helped remove snow.”

When snow falls heavily on the island, three snowplows in different locations go to work. Each snowplow, imported late last year from Germany, costs about 500 million won ($442,500).

Those vehicles operate 24 hours a day on island’s main roads until they are completely free from snow to prevent mass transportation, including buses and taxis, from being interrupted.

The Ulleung County government also transmits a television caption on cable broadcasts urging residents to clear snow around their homes.

The county even deployed backhoes from local construction firms to clear narrow roads where snowplows cannot pass. Civil servants, firefighters and military forces were also mobilized to clear the snow.

Public servants whose houses are far from their workplace stay in motels or other lodging facilities near work in case of heavy snow.

“Even though we have a hard time clearing large piles of snow after a heavy snowfall, people living here never express resentment of the snow,” said Lee Su-kil, 50, an Ulleung resident. “Residents actually hope for heavy snow so that there won’t be a drought in the spring.”

By Song Yee-ho [[email protected]]