Previous studies have intensively studied the atmospheric conditions associated with high- and low-PM₁₀ (particulate matter < 10 μm) episodes according to air quality standards. However, the association with the sudden changes in PM₁₀ concentrations has not been clearly understood. Here we defined a PM₁₀ change of above one standard deviation as a sudden change and divided these changes into PM₁₀-increasing days (294 days) and PM₁₀-decreasing days (277 days). We then investigated the atmospheric conditions concerning sudden changes in PM₁₀ in Seoul, Korea during 17 cold seasons (October to March) from 2001/2002 to 2017/2018. This study used the local and synoptic atmospheric variables obtained from ECMWF ERA-Interim and ERA5, and aerosol optical depth from MODIS/Terra. On PM₁₀-increasing days, a high-pressure anomaly was dominant in the Korean Peninsula's upper and lower atmosphere. A southerly wind, intense atmospheric stagnation, and high aerosol optical depth over the eastern region of China may also have been responsible for the increase in PM₁₀ regardless of the preceding concentration of PM₁₀. On PM₁₀-decreasing days, the prevailing atmospheric pattern was subject to the preceding concentration of PM₁₀. From the moderate (40–80 μg m⁻³) to the lower concentrations, a robust and low-pressure anomaly favorable for dispersion of PM₁₀ was dominant over the Korean Peninsula. In contrast, from the high (>80 μg m⁻³) to the moderate concentrations, there was no distinct pattern except for a high-pressure anomaly in the upper atmosphere. These results improve our understanding of the mechanisms behind the sudden changes in PM₁₀ due to atmospheric conditions over East Asia.