South Korea reported 2 441 heat-related illness cases and 21 suspected heat-related deaths from May 15 through August 4. The Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) placed Seoul and numerous other areas under its highest heat-warning tier.
People aged 80 and older accounted for 13 of the suspected deaths, while the government ordered stronger protection for vulnerable residents and outdoor workers.
The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) said 825 patients, or 33.8% of the total, were aged 65 or older, while 300 were aged 80 or older. Thirteen of the 21 suspected heat-related deaths involved people aged 80 or older. The figures reported through August 4 remain provisional.
A KMA bulletin issued at 00:00 LT on August 7 (15:00 UTC on August 6) placed all of Seoul and numerous locations in Gyeonggi, Incheon, Gangwon, South Jeolla and North Jeolla under their highest heat-warning from 03:00 LT (18:00 UTC on August 6). Heat warnings or advisories covered most of the remaining regions, while tropical-night advisories extended across wide parts of the country.
The continuing health impacts followed South Korea’s national temperature record of 42.5°C (108.5°F), measured at Yangsan on August 2. The reading exceeded the 41.4°C (106.5°F) record measured at the same location on July 31.
President Lee Jae-myung chaired an interagency heatwave and drought response meeting at the Government Complex Seoul on August 6.
He ordered ministries and regional governments to mobilize available personnel and resources, strengthen protection for elderly people living alone and residents of small single-room housing districts, and enforce heat-safety rules at construction sites and agricultural workplaces.
Outdoor workplaces accounted for 625 reported illnesses, followed by fields with 324, roadsides with 298, and homes with 172. Six suspected heat-related deaths occurred in fields, and five occurred in homes. Among patients aged 80 or older, 54 cases, or 18%, occurred at home, compared with 7% across all age groups.
The Ministry of Health and Welfare said the Today’s Health app sent 126 890 location-based heat messages between July 13 and August 4, including 25 668 danger-level messages. Visiting health nurses completed 176 514 household visits during the same period, with 128 283 involving cooling checks, preventive information, supplies or other heat-response measures.
References:
1 Joint interagency statement: Six in 10 suspected heat-related deaths involve people aged 80 and older; targeted protection measures to be strengthened – KDCA -August 6, 2026
2 Weather warnings currently issued and in effect for land and sea areas – KMA – August 7, 2026
3 Written briefing by Senior Presidential Spokesperson Kang Yu-jung on President Lee Jae-myung’s heatwave and drought response review meeting – Office of the President of the Republic of Korea – August 6, 2026