Elderly farmers die in 'death fields' amid heatwave; efforts to stop farm work intensify

South Korea is grappling with a severe heatwave, with "heatwave special alerts" issued across the capital region and western parts of the country. The extreme temperatures have tragically resulted in a series of heatstroke-related deaths, predominantly affecting elderly farmers in rural communities.

In the Jeonju region, two additional heatstroke fatalities were reported, bringing the cumulative total for the year to five. One victim, a 97-year-old, collapsed in their vegetable garden and later died in the hospital, with medical staff diagnosing heatstroke after finding their body temperature at 41.6 degrees Celsius. Another 82-year-old man was found collapsed on a road, also succumbing to heatstroke despite emergency treatment.

Similar incidents have occurred in other provinces. In Chungbuk, a man in his 60s died while spraying pesticides in a field, and another man in his 60s was found dead in a parked truck near a rice paddy. In Dangjin, South Chungcheong Province, a farmer in their 70s died in a pepper field, following the deaths of an 87-year-old and a 60-year-old farmer from suspected heatstroke in the preceding days.

These fatalities highlight the vulnerability of the elderly, who often form the backbone of the rural workforce due to labor shortages. In response, local governments are intensifying safety measures. Anseong City is using drones to monitor and assist elderly individuals working alone in fields, while other regions are advising farmers to return home during the hottest parts of the day. Public construction projects in Gyeonggi Province have been suspended, and smaller work sites are being monitored for compliance with rest break regulations.