Heat warnings issued as Seoul region faces unprecedented temperatures

Seoul and its surrounding areas are under a high‑level heat warning after a string of extreme temperature readings across the country.

The Korea Meteorological Administration announced that from 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, the southern districts of Seoul, parts of Gyeonggi province and the counties of Jangseong and Gokseong in South Jeolla will be subject to the highest heat alert.

The warning follows a series of record‑breaking temperatures, including a 42.5 °C reading in Yangsan on Sunday – the highest since modern monitoring began in 1904 – and a sustained 38 °C in the same city on Monday.

Health services are bracing for increased demand. Emergency rooms have already treated over a hundred heat‑related cases in a single day, and the cumulative number of patients since May 15 exceeds 2,000. The heat has also claimed lives, with a 40‑year‑old man in Incheon succumbing to a body temperature of around 40 °C.

Meteorologists warn that the ongoing high‑pressure ridge, clear skies and direct solar radiation will keep temperatures elevated for the foreseeable future. Residents are urged to stay indoors during peak heat hours, use fans or air‑conditioning, and stay well‑hydrated.