South Korea issues first emergency heatwave warning under new rating system

South Korea issued its first emergency heatwave alert on Sunday, July 12, 2026, under a new warning system designed to combat increasingly severe weather. The alert, a first since the system's inception this year, was issued for Gyeongsan and Pohang in southern North Gyeongsang Province.

An emergency alert is triggered when areas forecast to experience a heatwave reach perceived temperatures of 38°C or actual temperatures of 39°C for a single day. Lee Mi-seon, chief at the Korea Meteorological Administration, emphasized that such conditions present a "significantly elevated risk of serious harm, including heat-related illness and death," even for healthy individuals. Residents were advised to halt outdoor activities and ensure no one, especially children, is left in vehicles.

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The Korea Meteorological Administration issued an Emergency Heatwave Warning at 10 am today for two cities in southern North Gyeongsang Province - Gyeongsan and Pohang. This marks the first time it has been issued since the system took effect.

The new system reflects a concerning trend of rising heatwave intensity and duration in South Korea. Data from the Korea Meteorological Administration shows the average number of heatwave days has more than doubled from eight in the 1970s to 19 over the past five years. Tropical nights, with lows remaining above 25°C, have also increased from four to 14 annually in the same period.

This development occurs as Europe grapples with its own scorching summer, which has seen record-breaking temperatures and significant excess deaths. The intensifying heatwaves globally underscore the growing impact of climate change on public health and safety.

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An emergency heatwave warning does not simply mean the weather is extremely hot. It indicates conditions in which even healthy people face a significantly elevated risk of serious harm, including heat-related illness and death.