South Korea records all-time high of 42.5°C in Yangsan
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- Yangsan recorded 42.5°C at 1:26pm local time on Sunday (Aug 2), the highest temperature since South Korea began keeping records more than a century ago, according to the Korea Meteorological Administration.
- Yangsan has now exceeded 40°C for a fifth consecutive day, making it the epicentre of the ongoing heatwave, while cities including Daegu and Busan saw temperatures climb into the high 30s.
- More than 20 localities were placed under emergency heatwave alerts on Sunday — a new warning category introduced this year, triggered when perceived temperatures hit 38°C or actual temperatures reach 39°C for the day.
- The Korea Meteorological Administration urged people to "immediately stop all outdoor activities," warning that "indoor spaces without air conditioning are dangerous" and advising residents to move to cooling centres.
- South Korea's professional baseball league cancelled a game in Changwon after temperatures hit 39.5°C, marking the second consecutive game cancellation in that city, with the Korea Baseball Organization citing safety as the top priority.
- KMA data show the average annual number of heatwave days in South Korea has more than doubled to 19 over the past five years, up from 8 in the 1970s, with a heatwave day defined as a maximum of at least 33°C.
- Scientists attribute the increasing frequency and intensity of extreme weather to human-induced climate change, with the return of El Niño this year adding to conditions as Europe also sweltered through prolonged heatwaves pushing temperatures above 40°C.
Why it matters: Yangsan exceeding 40°C for five consecutive days and emergency alerts blanketing 20+ localities shows South Korea's heat infrastructure is already buckling — baseball games are being cancelled and residents are sheltering in malls. The doubling of average annual heatwave days from 8 in the 1970s to 19 today signals this is a measurable baseline shift, not a one-off, with material consequences for public health policy, outdoor labor, and event scheduling going forward.
