SEOUL, Dec. 5 (Xinhua) -- South Korea was hit Wednesday by the first cold wave this winter, with the mercury falling below zero in many regions across the country, according to the weather service.

Temperatures dropped by 10 to 15 degrees Wednesday from the previous day nationwide, according to the Korea Meteorological Administration.

The mercury dipped as low as 4.3 degrees Celsius below zero in the capital Seoul in the morning, minus 7.5 degrees Celsius in Cheorwon, the central section of the inter-Korean border in Gangwon province, and minus 2.7 degrees Celsius in Daejeon, the country's central city in Chungcheong province.

The weather agency issued cold wave warnings in the morning in many areas across the country. The warnings were forecast to be re-issued Thursday night.