The operation of flights and ships to and from Jejudo Island resumed Monday afternoon, three days after a heavy snow storm and cold snap froze most parts of the country, crippling transportation systems.

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport said it allowed the resumption of operations at Jeju International Airport after confirming the runways were safe, with most of the cold wave alerts being lifted.

Takeoff and landing of flights resumed from 3 p.m. after the snow was cleared from the airstrips.
 

More than 1,200 inbound and outbound Jejudo Island flights have been canceled since Saturday, as the resort island was hit by the heaviest snowfall in 32 years with rough winds. The massive cancellations for nearly 90,000 passengers paralyzed the airport, with some 1,400 taking refuge at the passenger terminal overnight.
 

Despite the resumption of flights, passenger traffic was expected to persist for the time being due to the limited capacity of the airport. The Jejudo Island airport can currently handle 34 flights per hour.

Operation of most ships to and from Jejudo Island also resumed in the afternoon as wind alerts were lifted.

The passenger ships between Pohang, North Gyeongsang Province, and the eastern island of Ulleungdo, however, were still restricted due to wave and wind advisories, leaving more than 1,000 island residents isolated for more than a week. Marine transportation officials said the advisory is expected to be cleared Tuesday. 

Meanwhile, a cold snap continued to grip the nation Monday with many regions recording around minus 20 degrees Celsius.

Temperatures in Paju and Pocheon in Gyeonggi Province reached minus 21.7 degrees Celsius, and minus 19.5 degrees Celsius in Imsil, North Jeolla Province.

In the afternoon, the Korea Meteorological Administration lifted the majority of the cold wave alerts across the country, except for Pyeongchang, Gangwon Province, and Jecheon, North Chuncheong Province. 

The weather alert for Seoul was also lifted three days after it had been issued for the first time in six years.

Meanwhile, three hypothermia deaths were reported over the weekend in the southern part of the country.

A 74-year-old man and a 47-year-old homeless man were found dead in Busan in apparent signs of hypothermia, health authorities said.

A 67-year-old man who was collecting recyclable paper in Daegu was also found dead early Sunday.   

Over 3,000 frozen-pipe incidents were also reported across the country, with some 1,030 cases in the capital.

The KMA said temperatures will rebound to normal levels from Tuesday.

By Lee Hyun-jeong (rene@heraldcorp.com)