According to Yonhap News Agency's report on August 4th, as the scorching weather continues to affect South Korea, the country reported 186 cases of high-temperature-related illnesses on the 3rd, setting a record for the highest number of cases in a single day this year. Additionally, there are two suspected cases where deaths have been attributed to high temperatures.
According to a report by the South Korean Health Management Agency on April 4, both death cases occurred in Wanju County, Jeollabuk-do. The deceased were a woman in her 90s and a man in his 80s. Since the Health Management Agency launched a monitoring system for high-temperature diseases on May 15, as of August 3, a total of 2,221 people have been reported with high-temperature diseases nationwide, and the number of deaths has increased to 19.
By region, Gyeonggi-do had the highest number of cases of heat-related illnesses reported on the previous day, with 39 cases. Following that were Seoul (23 cases), Gyeongsangnam-do (21 cases), Gwangju (18 cases), Incheon (15 cases), and Chungcheongnam-do (13 cases). In terms of symptoms, heat exhaustion accounted for 65.1%, followed by heatstroke (16.8%), heat cramps (11.5%), and heat syncope (8.9%).
The Korean Meteorological Agency issued a high-temperature warning of the highest level—“Severe High-Temperature Warning”—for the entire Seoul area at 11 a.m. on the 4th. During the same period, areas such as Wonsan in Gyeonggi-do, western and southeastern parts of Hyang and Cheju, Goyang, Anseong, and other locations, as well as Jeonju in North Jeolla Province and Seongam County in South Jeolla Province also received severe high-temperature warnings.
On June 1st, the Korean Meteorological Agency adjusted its high-temperature warning system. A new highest-level high-temperature major warning was introduced, increasing the number of levels in the high-temperature warning system from two to three. The conditions for issuing a high-temperature major alert are: in areas where the daily maximum perceived temperature exceeds 35°C for two consecutive days, it is expected that the daily maximum perceived temperature will exceed 38°C or the daily maximum temperature will exceed 39°C.
South Korean President Li Jeong-myeong said during a state council meeting on the 4th that South Korea is facing unprecedented extreme heat weather. He called the current situation a "national disaster state" and demanded that all government departments take all necessary measures to ensure the safety of citizens' lives and normal living conditions.
Lee Jae-ming pointed out that temperatures in some southern parts of Korea have exceeded 40 degrees Celsius for several consecutive days, and extreme heat has severely affected the daily lives of people. He asked relevant departments to further improve measures to protect vulnerable groups such as residents of temporary housing and elderly people living alone. At the same time, they should strengthen safety management for outdoor workers and workers in confined spaces. In particular, it is necessary to ensure that workers have the right to take a break under legal provisions during hot weather, and strengthen on-site inspections.
