South Korea Expands 'Major Heatwave Emergency Warning' to 17 Southern Areas Amidst Rising Indoor Illness Concerns

South Korea is grappling with extreme heat as its highest level of heatwave warning, the "major heatwave emergency warning," has been expanded to 17 locations in the southern region. This severe alert is activated when the highest perceived temperature is expected to surpass 38 degrees Celsius (100.4 Fahrenheit) for at least one day in areas already under a heatwave advisory.

The threshold of 38 degrees Celsius is critical, as heat-related illnesses tend to increase sharply at this temperature. Data compiled by the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters shows that as of 6 p.m. on August 1, the affected areas included Boseong, Yeosu, and Gwangyang in South Jeolla Province; Yangsan, Changwon, Gimhae, Miryang, Uiryeong, Haman, Changnyeong, Jinju, and Hapcheon in South Gyeongsang Province; and the central and western parts of Busan, and the eastern and western parts of Ulsan.

On Friday, July 31, at least 72 people sought emergency treatment for heat-related symptoms nationwide. The intensifying heat poses risks not only outdoors or in workplaces but also in homes lacking adequate cooling facilities. An analysis of data from 2011-2025 by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety's National Disaster Safety Research Institute revealed that the proportion of heat-related illnesses occurring indoors doubled from 6% to 12% when the daily maximum temperature exceeded 38 degrees Celsius.

Tragically, a 28-year-old man with pre-existing conditions in Busan died on July 30 after being taken to the hospital with symptoms of vomiting and decreased consciousness while at home. The rising sea temperatures are also impacting marine life, with fish farms reporting significant losses. This year, the number of dead fish has reached 165,196, a stark increase compared to 61,657 during the same period last year, approximately 2.7 times more.