Yangsan city in South Gyeongsang Province reached a new all-time high temperature of 41.6 °C this week [1].
The extreme spike marks a period of unprecedented heat across South Korea, threatening public health and straining infrastructure as temperatures remain dangerously high through the night.
Yangsan has now seen two consecutive days with temperatures exceeding 41 °C [1]. The city recorded 41.4 °C yesterday [1] before climbing further to the current record of 41.6 °C [1]. Reporter Jung Hye-yoon of YTN News said the current temperature has surpassed the previous day's mark in just 24 hours, marking the hottest weather ever observed in the city [1].
Other cities in the region are experiencing similar extremes. Kimhae and Changwon have also recorded temperatures over 40 °C [1]. This surge in heat has prompted officials to expand heat-wave warnings to several other regions, including Ulsan, Pohang, Gyeongju, and Yeosu [1].
Beyond the daytime peaks, the heat is persisting after sunset. Gangneung experienced its first "초열대야," or extremely hot night [1]. This phenomenon occurs when minimum nighttime temperatures remain exceptionally high, preventing the environment and the human body from recovering from daytime heat.
An anchor for YTN News said that extreme heat is peaking following the intense nighttime warmth [1]. The warnings now extend to Seoul and its surrounding areas as the heat wave continues to affect a wide swath of the peninsula [1].
“Yangsan hit 41.6 °C, surpassing yesterday’s 41.4 °C.”
The occurrence of "ultra-hot nights" alongside record-breaking daytime highs suggests a shift in regional climate patterns. When nighttime temperatures fail to drop, the risk of heat-related mortality increases because the body cannot shed the heat accumulated during the day, making the current heat wave more dangerous than typical seasonal spikes.
