South Korea records historic 42.5°C temperature amid severe heatwave

South Korea 42.5°C record Yangsan heatwave emergency Han Seong‑sook

On 2 August 2026 the Korea Meteorological Administration recorded a maximum temperature of 42.5 °C in the southeastern city of Yangsan, the highest temperature measured in the Korean Peninsula since modern records began in 1904. It was the fifth consecutive day that temperatures exceeded 40 °C in the region.

More than 20 localities were placed under emergency heat‑wave alerts and the government raised its heat‑response alert to the second‑highest level. Prime Minister Han Seong‑sook ordered ministries and local governments to mobilise resources, expand cooling shelters, distribute water and limit outdoor work. The heatwave has caused 13–14 deaths and nearly 1,900 heat‑related illnesses nationwide since mid‑May.

The extreme heat also disrupted daily life: baseball games in Changwon were cancelled after temperatures hit 39.5 °C, and power authorities activated emergency measures as electricity demand surged. Both South and North Korea issued heat advisories, with temperatures approaching 40 °C reported in Pyongyang.

Entities

El Niño · Han Seong-sook (Prime Minister) · Han Seong-suk · Han Seongsook · Han Seong‑sook · Korea Baseball Organization · Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) · Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) · Korea Meteorological Administration · Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) · Prime Minister Han Seongsook · Prime Minister Han Seong‑sook

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[● 25 SOURCES] The Korea Baseball Organization cancelled a game in Changwon after temperatures reached 39.5 °C. digitalphablet.com · newscentraltv.com · fr.news.yahoo.com · 1001infos.net · berita.rtm.gov.my · +20 more
[● 28 SOURCES] The 42.5 °C reading is the highest temperature recorded in South Korea since records began in 1904. digitalphablet.com · 1001infos.net · berita.rtm.gov.my · newscentraltv.com · fr.news.yahoo.com · +22 more
[● 27 SOURCES] The average annual number of heatwave days in South Korea has risen from eight in the 1970s to 19 in recent years. digitalphablet.com · 1001infos.net · berita.rtm.gov.my · newscentraltv.com · dailytimes.com.pk · +22 more
[● 27 SOURCES] More than 20 locations in South Korea were placed under emergency heatwave alerts. digitalphablet.com · 1001infos.net · berita.rtm.gov.my · newscentraltv.com · dailytimes.com.pk · +22 more
[● 25 SOURCES] Scientists attribute the increasing frequency and intensity of heatwaves in South Korea to human‑induced climate change and the return of El Niño. digitalphablet.com · 1001infos.net · berita.rtm.gov.my · newscentraltv.com · dailytimes.com.pk · +20 more
[● 21 SOURCES] The heatwave persisted for five consecutive days with temperatures above 40 °C in Yangsan. digitalphablet.com · 1001infos.net · berita.rtm.gov.my · newscentraltv.com · fr.news.yahoo.com · +15 more
[● 22 SOURCES] Yangsan recorded a temperature of 42.5 °C at 13:26 local time on 2 August 2026. digitalphablet.com · 1001infos.net · berita.rtm.gov.my · newscentraltv.com · fr.news.yahoo.com · +16 more
[● 21 SOURCES] Authorities advised residents to stop all outdoor activities, move to cooling centres or shaded areas, stay hydrated and rest. digitalphablet.com · 1001infos.net · berita.rtm.gov.my · newscentraltv.com · dailytimes.com.pk · +16 more
[● 15 SOURCES] Prime Minister Han Seong‑sook ordered ministries and local governments to mobilise resources and raised the national heat‑response alert to the second‑highest level. wixx.com · samacharnama.com · digitalphablet.com · thesheffieldpress.com · 1001infos.net · +10 more
[● 8 SOURCES] At least 13–14 people have died and nearly 1,900 have suffered heat‑related illnesses during the heatwave. thesheffieldpress.com · soha.vn · stratnewsglobal.com · islamabadpost.com.pk · www.planet-today.com · +3 more
[● 16 SOURCES] South Korea recorded its highest temperature of 42.5 °C in Yangsan on 2 August 2026. digitalphablet.com · 1001infos.net · berita.rtm.gov.my · exitonoticias.com.bo · intriper.com · +11 more