Freezing temperatures have gripped the nation.

The mercury stood at minus five-point-three degrees Celsius in Seoul on Thursday morning, or the lowest temperatures to be recorded so far this winter season. The wind chill in the capital plunged to some minus ten degrees Celsius.

A cold wave watch has been issued for 17 regions, including the northern parts of Gyeonggi Province and Gangwon Province as well as North Chungcheong Province.

Morning lows fell by more than ten degrees Celsius compared to Wednesday. Temperatures dropped as low as minus eight-point-eight degrees in Cheorwon, minus five-and-a-half degrees in Seoul and minus three-point-nine in Incheon.

Such cold weather is expected throughout the nation until Friday.