Yellow cosmos bloom amid lingering heatwave in South Korea

The traditional marker for the end of summer, 'Chuseok' (a major Korean harvest festival), arrived on August 23rd, but the anticipated 'Chuseok magic' – a sudden drop in temperature – failed to materialize. Instead, a persistent heatwave continued across South Korea over the weekend.

Temperatures soared, with Yangsan in the Gyeongsangnam-do province recording a high of 37.1 degrees Celsius around 1 p.m. on Saturday. Other regions also experienced intense late-summer heat, with Jeonju in Jeollabuk-do reaching 36 degrees and Changnyeong in Gyeongsangnam-do hitting 35.9 degrees Celsius. The Korea Meteorological Administration forecasts this heat to continue until the end of August.

Despite the unseasonable warmth, citizens took advantage of the weekend to engage in outdoor activities. In Cheongju, North Chungcheong Province, the banks of the Musimcheon stream were adorned with approximately 100,000 yellow cosmos flowers, creating a vibrant autumn atmosphere. These blooms offered a visual respite for residents weary from the heat.

Visitors enjoyed the scenery, looking up at the blue sky dotted with fluffy clouds, anticipating the true arrival of autumn. The sight of the yellow cosmos flowers, bees buzzing around them, and children examining the blooms provided a colorful contrast to the lingering summer heat, offering a glimpse of the changing season.