A record heatwave is gripping the Korean Peninsula, sending temperatures soaring across South Korea and North Korea as authorities expand emergency measures and residents seek relief in cooling shelters, beaches and water parks.
Forecasters said yesterday that extreme heat, previously concentrated in South Korea’s southeast, was spreading to the Seoul metropolitan area and other western regions. North Korean state media also reported temperatures approaching 40°C in parts of the country and a fifth straight tropical night in Pyongyang.
South Korea’s weather agency warned temperatures could rise further in western regions this week and said the heatwave and tropical nights were likely to persist.
Data released by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency on Sunday showed that 14 had died and 1,889 people had suffered heat-related illnesses since mid-May.
The Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) said Yangsan recorded 42.5°C on Sunday, the highest temperature measured in 122 years of weather observations. The southeastern city had already broken the national record on the two preceding days.
Prime Minister Han Seong-sook ordered for the mobilisation of all available resources to respond to heatwave and drought risks after the government raised its heatwave response alert to the second-highest level, unlocking funding for relief efforts and more frequent inspections in affected areas.
Power authorities have activated emergency measures and are closely monitoring supply and demand as electricity consumption is expected to reach a record high later this month amid surging air-conditioning use.
The KMA yesterday issued its first-ever severe heatwave warning for parts of Seoul and neighbouring Gyeonggi province, while the same highest-level heat alerts remained in effect across southern regions including Busan, Ulsan, South Gyeongsang and parts of Gwangju and South Jeolla province.
Searing temperatures have disrupted daily life. Over the weekend, the Korea Baseball Organisation cancelled games in Busan and Changwon and said further schedule adjustments could be considered if dangerous conditions persist.
Local media reported packed beaches, water parks and riverside recreation areas.
At Seoul’s Cheonggyecheon stream, where the city is running a summer water festival featuring temporary paddling zones and splash areas, families sought relief from the heat.
“Forty degrees is not a number we used to see in Korea, but now it feels like we see it all the time,” said Park Jin-woo, 39, who brought his children there to cool down. — Reuters
