South Korean President Declares Heatwave a National Disaster as Death Toll Reaches 19

South Korean President Lee Jae-myung has declared a record heatwave a national disaster after the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency reported that 19 people have died. During a cabinet meeting on Tuesday, August 4, President Lee ordered officials to protect citizens and inspect power systems to handle the surge in air conditioning demand. He also called for a major redesign of the disaster response system to address the likelihood that extreme weather will persist. The Korea Meteorological Administration reported that Yangsan, a southeastern inland city, reached 42.5 degrees Celsius on Sunday, August 2. This marks the highest temperature recorded in 122 years of observations. On Monday, the agency issued its first ever heatwave warning for parts of Seoul and Gyeonggi, extending the warning to the entire capital on Tuesday. These alerts advise the suspension of outdoor activities including farming, sports, and construction work. Since May 15, 2,025 people nationwide have suffered from heat related illnesses. The extreme conditions also led to the cancellation of two baseball games in Seoul and Gwangju on Tuesday.