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.<\/p>\n
People aged 80 and older accounted for 13 of the suspected deaths, while the government ordered stronger protection for vulnerable residents and outdoor workers.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
The continuing health impacts followed South Korea\u2019s national temperature record of 42.5\u00b0C (108.5\u00b0F), measured at Yangsan on August 2<\/a>. The reading exceeded the 41.4\u00b0C (106.5\u00b0F) record measured at the same location on July 31.<\/p>\n President Lee Jae-myung chaired an interagency heatwave and drought response meeting at the Government Complex Seoul on August 6.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n The Ministry of Health and Welfare said the Today\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n References:<\/p>\n 1 Joint interagency statement: Six in 10 suspected heat-related deaths involve people aged 80 and older; targeted protection measures to be strengthened \u2013 KDCA<\/a> -August 6, 2026<\/p>\n 2 Weather warnings currently issued and in effect for land and sea areas \u2013 KMA<\/a> \u2013 August 7, 2026<\/p>\n