Fallen leaves clog drains as autumn downpour floods Seoul streets, forces event cancellations

Heavy rain lashed Seoul on Sunday, causing flooding and traffic disruptions across the city. Fallen leaves blocking drainage systems prevented water from flowing freely, and several outdoor events were canceled as conditions worsened.

According to Seoul's traffic information system, the road running beneath Jeungsan Bridge in Seodaemun-gu was flooded by rainfall and closed to traffic in both directions from 3:04 p.m. Sunday. Alerts were also issued urging drivers to exercise caution on slippery roads and amid strong winds on multiple expressway sections, including stretches of the Gyeongbu Expressway between Yangjae and Anseong.

Strong gusts and heavy rain caused damage across the city center. In Yeoksam-dong, Gangnam-gu, a sudden gust knocked over a tree, sending it into the middle of the road and blocking both vehicles and pedestrians.

Near Yeonsinnae Station in Eunpyeong-gu, a flooded road slowed traffic to a crawl, with water rising above knee level in some areas. The Jungnangcheon stream also swelled after intense rainfall in a short period. Officials attributed the widespread flooding to fallen autumn leaves clogging drainage channels and impeding water flow.

Outdoor performances scheduled for Sunday were also called off due to the deteriorating weather. Mint Paper, the organizer of the Grand Mint Festival, which had been set to take place at Olympic Park in Songpa-gu, announced it would issue full refunds to ticket holders. "We determined it was realistically near impossible to deliver the performances we had prepared given the continued worsening of weather conditions," the company said.

Mapo-gu also canceled all afternoon outdoor programs at the 19th Mapo Naru Saeujeot Festival — a traditional salted shrimp festival — to protect the safety of residents and visitors amid heavy rain and strong winds. "We had completed safety checks on the facilities in advance, but as the rain intensified, we prioritized safety above all else," a Mapo-gu official said. Suspended programs included a shrimp-catching experience for children and the closing ceremony featuring fireworks and a laser show.

The Seoul Metropolitan Government said it was receiving a steady stream of complaints related to flooding and rain damage and was responding immediately. Officials said they were working closely with individual district offices to clear fallen leaves from drainage channels and directing crews to pump water from flooded areas.

"The rain appears to be easing, but reports of damage are still coming in, so we are focused on resolving them as quickly as possible," a Seoul Metropolitan Government official said.