South Korea Records Its Hottest Temperature Ever

South Korea has recorded its highest temperature since weather records began more than a century ago. On Sunday, the city of Yangsan reached 42.5°C, which is about 108°F. Officials warned people to stop all outdoor activities right away and move to cool places to stay safe.

The Korea Meteorological Administration, known as the KMA, said this was the highest temperature recorded since modern weather tracking began in South Korea in 1904. Yangsan had already seen temperatures above 40°C for five days in a row before this record was set. Nearby cities like Daegu and Busan were also dealing with temperatures in the high 30s.

Many people left their homes to find cool air in shopping malls and cafes. A 27-year-old named Ju Dong-yeol took shelter from the heat at a Starbucks in Seoul with his parents. He told reporters, 'It is too hot to be outside doing anything.' He said his only option was to stay in air-conditioned places like home, malls, or cafes.

More than 20 areas across the country were under emergency heatwave alerts on Sunday. This new type of warning was introduced in 2024 to deal with rising temperatures. An emergency alert goes out when an area is expected to feel like 38°C or actually reach 39°C during the day.

The KMA told people to 'immediately stop all outdoor activities' and warned that 'indoor spaces without air conditioning are dangerous.' People were advised to move to a cooling center or shaded area as quickly as possible. The agency also reminded everyone to drink water and rest while staying cool.

The extreme heat even affected sports. South Korea's professional baseball league canceled a game in the city of Changwon after temperatures there hit 39.5°C. It was the second game in a row canceled in that city, with officials saying player and fan safety was the top reason for the decision.

Scientists say that heatwaves like this one are becoming more common and more intense because of climate change caused by human activity. On top of that, a weather pattern called El Niño has returned this year. El Niño warms the surface of the Pacific Ocean and usually happens every two to seven years, making hot weather even worse in some parts of the world.

KMA data shows that the average number of heatwave days in South Korea has more than doubled in the past five years, rising to about 19 days per year. A heatwave day is counted when the highest temperature of the day reaches at least 33°C. Scientists warn that if climate change continues, these extreme heat events will happen even more often in the future.