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South Korea on Sunday issued its first-ever "grave heat wave" warnings for the southeastern cities of Gyeongsan and Pohang, according to Yonhap News Agency. The high-level alerts, which took effect in the two cities at 10:00 a.m., came under a new warning system that was introduced last month to better address the increasing frequency and intensity of heatwaves.

The Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) issued the warnings after temperatures soared to 39.9°C in Gyeongsan and 37.2°C in Pohang the previous day. Forecasts predicted highs of 39°C in both cities on Sunday.

Coverage Comparison

The South China Morning Post reported that this was the first time the emergency alert had been issued since the system took effect. The newspaper quoted KMA chief Lee Mi-seon as saying at a press briefing, "This marks the first time it has been issued since the system took effect."

Yonhap's reports provided additional details on the timing and duration of the warnings. One Yonhap article noted that the warnings took effect at 11:00 a.m. and were replaced by a regular heat wave warning at 4 p.m. after temperatures reached 36.4°C in Gyeongsan and 36.5°C in Pohang.

The two outlets differed slightly on the exact time the warnings were issued, with Yonhap reporting the start time as 10:00 or 11:00 a.m. in different articles. The South China Morning Post reported the 10 a.m. issuance.

Key Claims

  • South Korea issued its first "grave heat wave" warnings for Gyeongsan and Pohang under a new highest-level alert system introduced last month, according to multiple reports.
  • The system was introduced to better deal with a rising number of heatwaves, which have become longer and more intense, as reported by the South China Morning Post.
  • An emergency alert is issued when areas experiencing a heatwave are forecast to hit perceived temperatures of 38°C or an actual temperature of 39°C, according to the South China Morning Post.
  • Yonhap reported that a grave heat wave warning is issued when the daily high is forecast to reach 39°C in areas where the apparent temperature has reached 35°C or higher for at least two consecutive days.
  • Temperatures reached 39.9°C in Gyeongsan and 37.2°C in Pohang the day before the warnings were issued, as reported by Yonhap.
  • Ninety-nine people were sent to hospital emergency rooms nationwide for heat-related illness on Saturday, according to Yonhap.
  • Yonhap also reported that annual heat wave days climbed from 7.7 in 2020 to about 30 in both 2024 and 2025, and that more than 60 percent of heat-related deaths occurred among people aged 60 or older. Public health authorities estimate that when apparent temperatures reach 38 degrees, mortality among those aged 65 and older rises by 19 percent.

Context

The grave heat wave warnings were issued under a new alert system that took effect on June 1. According to Yonhap, the system was designed to alert the public to extreme heat, and the warnings are intended for conditions expected perhaps once a decade. However, as the South China Morning Post noted, the threshold was crossed almost immediately after the system was introduced.

Under a grave heat wave warning, people are advised to avoid outdoor activities, stay in the shade and drink plenty of water, according to Yonhap.

Other parts of South Korea also experienced hot weather on Sunday, with the eastern coastal city of Samcheok recording a daily high of 37.5°C and Seoul hitting 35°C, Yonhap reported. The KMA forecast hot weather to continue Monday, with daily highs ranging between 30 and 37°C, along with rain showers in central and inland areas.