▲ Pedestrians walk through the rain with umbrellas in central Seoul on June 20, 2026. (Yonhap)
▲ Access to a makeshift bridge set up for the Gangneung Danoje Festival in Gangneung, about 170 kilometers east of Seoul, is restricted on June 20, 2026, due to heavy rain. (Yonhap)

(LEAD) rain-forecast

(LEAD) Heavy rain soaks Gangwon Province; access to Mt. Seorak restricted

(ATTN: RECASTS dateline, headline, lead; UPDATES with more details throughout)

SEOUL/GANGNEUNG, South Korea, June 20 (Yonhap) -- Heavy rain fell in Gangwon Province on Saturday, the weather agency said, prompting authorities to restrict access to high-altitude trails in the national park on Mount Seorak and disrupting a local festival.

As of 4 p.m., a maximum of 223 millimeters of rain had fallen on Misiryeong Pass, according to the Gangwon Regional Office of Meteorology.

A heavy rain warning had been lifted as of 4 p.m. as rainfall eased, but strong winds and high waves were still reported in waters off the country's east coast.

Earlier in the day, the national park office of Mount Seorak restricted access to high-altitude trails due to heavy rain.

As the eastern coastal city of Gangneung received heavy rainfall, the organizer of the Gangneung Danoje Festival, a major regional festival, canceled or rescheduled some of its programs.

The Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) earlier forecast rain will likely continue across South Korea through Saturday evening after heavy downpours drenched much of the country overnight.

The KMA warned of rough seas in southern and eastern waters, with waves expected to reach up to 5 meters in the East Sea through Sunday.

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