A child enjoys the cool relief of the floor fountain at Seoul’s Gwanghwamun Square on the sweltering afternoon of the 21st as another heatwave continues to grip the country. On the 24th, the heat intensified warnings extended to Taebaek in Gangwon and the West Sea Five Islands (Seoha-5do), with Hallasan on Jeju Island excluded from the advisories.
The Korea Meteorological Administration reported that at 11:00 a.m. feverish heat warnings covered 133 zones nationwide, while 49 zones were under heat advisories and 182 out of 183 inland weather-warning zones were under some form of heat alert. An advisory is issued when the daily maximum perceived temperature is expected to stay at 33°C or higher for two or more days; a warning is issued when it is expected to reach 35°C or higher for the same duration.
Taebaek, a highland city with an average elevation around 902.2 meters, is not typically prone to extreme heat, yet the morning readings showed 32.5°C as of 11:51 a.m. Last month, Taebaek also faced heat advisories from the 29th to the 31st.
Looking ahead, rainfall is expected across many parts of the country this week, which may bring some relief, but daytime heat is still projected to persist. The heat is also likely to extend into September. A recently released one-month forecast covering September 2–29 indicates a 50% chance that early September temperatures will be above the long-term average. In the second, third, and fourth weeks of September, the likelihood of above-normal temperatures remains significant when compared with the 30-year average. In particular, the first week of September could see daytime highs surpassing 30°C on several days. Last year, September remained hotter than usual through Chuseok, and this year is expected to follow a similar pattern, underscoring the need for continued precautions.
Officials advise people to stay hydrated, limit outdoor activity during peak heat, and check on the elderly and other vulnerable groups as the heat persists. While rain promises some temporary relief, the coming weeks will demand ongoing vigilance against heat-related impacts on health, power demand, and daily life.