The Korean Meteorological Administration expanded a heat-wave severe warning to cover all of Seoul and surrounding regions on Tuesday [1].
The escalation follows a dramatic spike in temperatures across the western Korean peninsula, posing significant public health risks to millions of residents in densely populated urban centers.
Hot winds blowing from the east drove temperatures upward [1]. In the Guro district, temperatures reached 39°C for the second consecutive day [1]. Other areas of the capital recorded similarly extreme levels, with Gangseo hitting 38.3°C [2]. Reports for the Gangnam district varied between 38.7°C [2] and 39.2°C [1].
While local districts saw extreme peaks, the official maximum temperature for Seoul reported by the agency was between 36.8°C [1] and 36.9°C [1]. The heat was not limited to the capital; Gwangju in Jeollanam-do recorded a temperature of 38.6°C [2].
"The heat-wave severe warning has been expanded to all of Seoul, and here in Guro-gu, extreme heat reaching 39 degrees has appeared for two consecutive days," Won Chae-young said [1].
The KMA expanded the severe warning to include Seoul, Jeonju, Goyang, Anseong, Paju, and Yongin [2]. This expansion aims to coordinate emergency responses as the western part of the peninsula continues to experience high temperatures [1].
"Due to hot winds blowing from the east, temperatures in the western regions, including the capital area and Honam, are very high," a YTN anchor said [1].
“Extreme heat reaching 39 degrees has appeared for two consecutive days.”
The expansion of the 'severe' warning category indicates that the heat has surpassed standard seasonal expectations, requiring an emergency-level response. The disparity between official city-wide averages and district-specific peaks highlights the 'urban heat island' effect, where concrete infrastructure in areas like Guro and Gangnam traps heat, creating localized danger zones significantly hotter than the official meteorological record.
