Yangsan Logs 42.5C, South Korea's Highest Temperature Ever
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- Yangsan hit 42.5C on Sunday — the highest temperature recorded in South Korea since modern weather observation began in 1904, capping five consecutive days above 40C
- Korea Meteorological Administration issued emergency heatwave alerts across 20+ localities and urged people to "immediately stop all outdoor activities," warning that indoor spaces without air conditioning are dangerous
- North Korea also faced punishing heat, with temperatures reaching 40C in some regions and Pyongyang enduring a week of nights where the temperature did not drop below 25C
- Prime Minister Han Seong-sook ordered local officials to strengthen safety checks on vulnerable residents and ensure a stable power and water supply
- Typhoon Dolphin is tracking toward China's south-east coast — its path will determine whether Korea's heatwave intensifies via added humidity or eases with rain and cloud cover
- Average annual heatwave days in South Korea have more than doubled to 19 over the past five years, with scientists linking the extreme weather to human-induced climate change and the return of El Niño
Why it matters: South Korea's average annual heatwave days have more than doubled to 19 in five years, and Sunday's 42.5C broke a 122-year record — turning a once-per-century event into a recurring crisis that has now forced sports cancellations, emergency heat alerts across 20+ localities, and parallel emergency measures in North Korea, where Pyongyang also hit 40C.
