A record-breaking summer turns deadly
South Korea is facing its deadliest heatwave in recorded history. On Sunday, the southeastern island city of Yangsan registered 42.5°C, the highest temperature in 122 years of observations.
The government extended its first-ever heatwave warning to cover all of Seoul on Tuesday. The Korea Meteorological Administration introduced this advisory this year to alert the public to extreme temperatures. Officials are urging people to stay indoors and hydrate, with 4,000 public facilities designated as cooling centers for residents.
President calls for systemic change
President Lee Jae Myung warned in a cabinet meeting that extreme weather conditions are no longer seasonal anomalies but are becoming part of everyday life. He said, 'We need to make efforts for a fundamental overhaul of the national crisis system, since this extreme weather is becoming normal.' The president specifically called for urgent inspections of the energy grid, as air conditioning demand surges.
Lee’s comments reflect growing concerns among government officials and scientists about the long-term impacts of climate change on public health and infrastructure. 'The weather is changing,' one unnamed official said, echoing a sentiment shared by many in the country.
Regional heatwave trends and toll
South Korea is not alone in suffering from extreme summer heat. In Japan, the term 'cruelly hot days' is now used for days where temperatures exceed 40°C. Tama Zoo in Tokyo reported the deaths of three lions in a week due to suspected heatstroke. Meanwhile, in Germany, the heat-related death toll for 2026 has already surpassed the annual totals from 2016 onwards.
Scientists warn that rising temperatures are not just a regional issue but a global crisis. South Korea, with nearly half its population living in the Seoul metropolitan area, faces a special challenge in managing such weather on a scale never seen before.