Record Heat Wave Grips Northeast Asia with Severe Impact on South Korea

A record breaking heat wave has gripped Northeast Asia, causing significant casualties and disruptions across South Korea, Japan, and North Korea. In South Korea, the city of Yangsan recorded a national high of 42.5 degrees Celsius, the highest temperature since weather observations began in 1904. South Korean President Lee Jae Myung has instructed officials to treat the heat wave as a national disaster. According to the Interior and Safety Ministry, approximately 2,220 people have been diagnosed with heat related illnesses and 19 have died since mid May, though other reports indicate the death toll has risen to 21. Livestock and farmed fish have also suffered heavy losses, with over 17,000 livestock and 160,000 fish dying.

The extreme weather has forced significant changes to public activities and labor. The Korea Baseball Organization suspended games through the weekend and pushed back start times to 7 p.m. to avoid peak heat after a 25 year old spectator collapsed during a game in Incheon. In the workplace, large companies such as Hyundai Engineering and Construction and Posco have implemented extended breaks and cooling equipment. However, center right reporting highlights a protection gap, noting that these measures are concentrated among major firms while workers at smaller or outdoor sites remain more exposed.

Regional impacts extend to Japan and North Korea. In Japan, over 18,000 people were transported to hospitals with heat stroke symptoms in late July, and three lions died at the Tama Zoological Park. In North Korea, authorities issued heat wave advisories, and a hospital official recommended eating dog meat and fish porridge to maintain stamina during the heat. The Korea Meteorological Administration expects the heat to peak on Friday before easing slightly over the weekend, although temperatures will remain above normal.