Busan and nearby Yangsan are experiencing an extreme heatwave with temperatures exceeding 38°C in the coastal city for two consecutive days [1].
This weather event marks a significant climatic anomaly for the region, as the natural cooling mechanisms that typically protect the coast from extreme heat have failed. The breakdown of these patterns has pushed temperatures to levels not seen in over a century.
According to YTN News, the current heat is the most severe the region has faced in 122 years [1]. While Busan struggled with temperatures over 38°C [1], the inland basin of Yangsan saw temperatures climb even higher, exceeding 40°C [2].
Meteorologists attribute the crisis to a persistent high-pressure system that trapped heat over the city. Normally, the Namhae sea breeze acts as a "natural air-conditioner" to lower temperatures. However, this wind absorbed moisture and transformed into a warm, humid wind, or "warm breeze," which intensified the heat [1].
In Yangsan, the local topography further exacerbated the situation. The city is situated in an inland basin, which concentrated the heat and prevented it from dispersing. This combination of atmospheric pressure and geography turned the area into a heat trap.
"122 years of heat have arrived in Busan, and for two days it has exceeded 38 degrees, with 'record-breaking heat' continuing daily," an anchor for YTN News said [1].
Reporter Jeong Hye-yoon described the scene in the Busan city center as being under a scorching sun. She said the heat accumulated in the city center due to a double high-pressure system, while the cooling Namhae breeze turned into a warm wind carrying water vapor [1].
“Busan endured its hottest heat in 122 years.”
The failure of the Namhae sea breeze suggests a shift in local meteorological patterns where traditional geographic advantages—such as coastal proximity—no longer provide reliable cooling during extreme high-pressure events. The intensification of heat in the Yangsan basin further highlights how urban and topographic traps can amplify regional heatwaves, potentially increasing the risk of heat-related illness in South Gyeongsang Province.
