Record-Breaking Heat Sweeps South Korea

A severe heat wave has pushed temperatures to unprecedented levels across South Korea, shattering long-standing records and prompting authorities to issue warnings and take protective measures. According to the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA), the southeastern city of Yangsan reached a record 42°C on Sunday, the highest temperature ever recorded in the city and the latest in a series of milestones during the ongoing heat wave.

The KMA reported that the mercury in Yangsan hit 40.3°C at 11:47 a.m. on Sunday before climbing to 40.9°C at noon and ultimately reaching 42°C, marking the fifth consecutive day the city saw temperatures above 40°C. The previous day, the city recorded 41.6°C, which the agency noted was the highest reading since modern observations began on the Korean Peninsula in 1904, based on data from its 97 long-term stations.

Earlier in the week, Yangsan had registered 41.4°C at 1:40 p.m. on Friday, the highest since the KMA began collecting data in the city in 2008. That reading surpassed the previous national record of 41°C set in Hongcheon in August 2018, though it remained just short of the all-time national record of 41.9°C, set in Gwangju on the same date in 2018, which is not among the KMA's 97 observation sites.

Records in Busan and Seoul

The heat wave has also broken long-standing records in other parts of the country. In the port city of Busan, temperatures reached 38.8°C at 2:56 p.m. on Wednesday, surpassing the previous record of 37.3°C set in 2016 and marking the city's highest reading since weather tracking began in 1904—an all-time high in 122 years.

Seoul also experienced extreme heat, with temperatures topping 40°C for the first time in the capital. The KMA reported that an automatic weather station in Seoul's northern ward of Nowon recorded 40.2°C at 3:28 p.m. on Friday, underscoring the intensity of the heat wave affecting the greater Seoul area.

KMA Cites Dual Pressure Systems

The Korea Meteorological Administration attributed the prolonged heat wave to the dual influence of the North Pacific High and the Tibetan High pressure systems. These systems have combined to trap hot air over the Korean Peninsula, leading to consecutive days of extreme temperatures. The KMA projected that the heat wave would persist through the end of next week.

Government and Municipal Responses

In response to the extreme conditions, the KMA upgraded a heat wave advisory to a full warning for eastern and southwestern parts of Seoul on Wednesday, marking the capital's second heat wave warning this summer. A heat wave warning is issued when the maximum apparent temperature is expected to remain above 35°C for two or more consecutive days. The apparent temperature in southern Seoul reached 35.1°C at 3 p.m. that day.

The Seoul metropolitan government opened local administrative offices for the public to use as cooling centers around the clock. The city also restricted outdoor work from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. at municipal construction sites, recommending that private sites follow suit.

Broader Economic Impact

As the heat wave persisted, it coincided with significant volatility in South Korean financial markets. On Wednesday, Seoul shares plunged by nearly 6%, following an almost 11% crash the previous session, as investors sold off semiconductor stocks amid skepticism over returns on massive AI spending. The South Korean won strengthened to a nearly five-month high against the U.S. dollar, quoted at 1,446.7 won per dollar at 3:30 p.m., up 15.8 won from the previous day, the strongest level since February 27.

Key Claims

  • Yangsan recorded a record high of 42°C on Sunday, marking the fifth consecutive day of temperatures above 40°C in the city.
  • The previous day's 41.6°C was the highest reading since modern observations began in 1904, according to KMA data.
  • Busan's 38.8°C on Wednesday was the city's highest since 1904, an all-time record in 122 years.
  • Seoul saw its first reading above 40°C, with 40.2°C recorded in Nowon on Friday.
  • The KMA attributes the heat wave to the dual influence of the North Pacific High and the Tibetan High pressure systems.