KMA Weather

KMA Weather

OS : android Size : 44.26 MBVersion : 2.3.2

Updated : January 16, 2026

appIntroduction

In a world where weather can change in an instant, having a reliable and immediate source of information is crucial for safety and planning. KMA Weather (기상청 날씨알리미) is an official mobile application developed by the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA). Its primary purpose is to deliver real-time, location-specific weather alerts and critical notifications directly from South Korea’s national weather service. Unlike many third-party weather apps that aggregate data from various sources, KMA Weather provides authoritative, official warnings for events like earthquakes, typhoons, heavy rain, and other special weather phenomena, making it an indispensable tool for residents and visitors in South Korea.

Launching Your KMA Weather Experience

KMA Weather is a utility application designed as a public safety service. Upon opening the app, users are immediately presented with the current weather conditions for their location. The interface is functional and straightforward, prioritizing clarity and speed of information delivery over elaborate graphics. The core differentiator of this app is its direct pipeline to the KMA, ensuring that all alerts and warnings are not just accurate but are the same official advisories used by government agencies and news outlets. This direct link makes it the most authoritative source for real-time weather danger notifications in the region.

KMA Weather

Exploring KMA Weather: Core Functions and Mechanics

As a service-based application, KMA Weather’s value is defined by its core functions, which are built around alerting and informing.

KMA Weather

Immediate Alert Notifications

The app’s most critical function is its push notification system for special weather warnings and earthquake alerts. Users do not need to have the app open to receive these alerts; they are delivered directly to their device’s notification center. This system is designed to provide the fastest possible warning for impending severe weather or seismic activity, allowing users to take necessary safety precautions without delay. The alerts are based on the user’s precise location, ensuring relevance.

KMA Weather

Localized Weather Monitoring

Beyond emergency alerts, the app serves as a handy weather dashboard. Users can view key current conditions—such as temperature, precipitation probability, and fine dust levels—at a glance. The information is presented in a clean, card-based layout that is easy to read. A notable feature is the integrated weather widget, which allows users to place a compact weather display directly on their device’s home screen for constant, at-a-glance monitoring without opening the app.

KMA Weather

Customizable Location Management

Understanding that users may need information for more than just their immediate vicinity, the app allows for the management of multiple locations. You can add cities or regions important to you, such as your workplace, your hometown, or a child’s school. This means you can receive tailored weather updates and critical alerts for all your selected locations, ensuring comprehensive coverage for your entire area of concern.

The Official Source: Developer and Platform for KMA Weather

Developer or Company Background

KMA Weather is developed and published by the Korea Meteorological Administration (기상청), specifically its Information and Communication Technology Division (정보통신기술과). As South Korea’s national agency responsible for weather forecasts, warnings, and observations, the KMA is the definitive source for meteorological data in the country. This official backing is the app’s greatest strength, guaranteeing the reliability and authority of its information.

Platform Availability and Access

The app is exclusively available on Android via the APK download format. It has been offered since January 2020, with its latest update released in November 2024. The app requires Android 5.0 or later and has a download size of approximately 26 MB. It is completely free to download and use, with no subscriptions or in-app purchases, aligning with its mission as a public service tool.

Functional Design and Systems of KMA Weather

The Alert Management System

This is the backbone of the application. The system continuously monitors official KMA data feeds for any warnings that meet the user’s location criteria. When a warning is issued, it triggers an instant push notification. The system is designed for low latency, prioritizing speed to ensure users get as much advance notice as possible. Users can typically customize which types of alerts they wish to receive, allowing them to filter out less critical notifications if desired.

The Data Presentation Interface

This system handles how weather information is displayed to the user. It takes complex meteorological data and presents it in a simple, digestible format. The interface uses clear icons, numerical values, and color-coding (e.g., for different air quality levels) to convey information quickly. The home screen widget is an extension of this system, pulling key data points to provide a constant, minimalist weather snapshot.

The User-Contributed Reporting Tool

In a collaborative effort to enhance data accuracy, the app includes a feature that allows users to report local weather conditions they are experiencing. This citizen science approach provides ground-level observations that can help the KMA validate and refine its forecasts and models, ultimately improving the service for everyone.

User Feedback and Practical Highlights

Based on widespread user reports and reviews, several key highlights define the practical experience of using KMA Weather:

  Authoritative Reliability: Users consistently value the peace of mind that comes from receiving alerts directly from the national meteorological agency, trusting them over third-party sources.

  Essential for Safety: KMA Weather is widely regarded as a critical public safety tool, especially during South Korea’s typhoon season or for earthquake early warnings.

  Functional Design: The interface is praised for being straightforward and easy to navigate, putting critical information front and center without unnecessary clutter.

  Performance Considerations: Some users have reported that the app’s design can feel dated compared to modern weather applications, and occasional performance issues have been noted on older devices.

  Language Limitation: The primary language of the app is Korean, which can be a significant barrier for non-Korean speakers, despite the app’s utility.

Why KMA Weather Is Worth Trying

KMA Weather is an essential application for anyone living in or traveling to South Korea. Its primary strength is its unmatched authority and reliability as the official notification service of the country's meteorological administration. While it may lack the polished visuals of commercial weather apps, it more than makes up for it with its critical, life-saving function. It is best suited for individuals who prioritize receiving the fastest and most accurate severe weather and earthquake alerts above all else. For ensuring you are prepared and informed in the face of sudden environmental dangers, KMA Weather provides immense practical value and is arguably the most important weather app you can have installed on your device while in South Korea.

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appInformation
  • Owner : 기상청 정보통신기술과
  • System : android
  • Category : Weather
  • Update Time : January 16, 2026
  • Version : 2.3.2
  • Package ID : kr.go.kma.weatherapp
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