South Korea Declares Emergency as Temperatures Break 120-Year Record

South Korea has recorded its highest temperature in modern history with the southeastern city of Yangsan reaching a sweltering 42.5 degrees Celsius (108.5°F) on Sunday.

According to the Korea Meteorological Administration this is the hottest temperature recorded on the Korean Peninsula since modern weather observation began in 1904. The severe heatwave is tightly gripping the country's southeastern region. Yangsan has now endured temperatures above 40°C (104°F) for five consecutive days and forecasters warn the heat could still climb beyond 43°C. Neighboring Gyeongju also crossed the 40°C threshold hitting 40.2°C for the first time this year.

Recognizing the severe public health threat the South Korean government has elevated its disaster response to a Level 2 emergency. Prime Minister Han Seong-sook has urgently directed ministries and local authorities to conduct safety checks on individuals highly vulnerable to extreme heat.

Additionally officials are closely managing the national grid to ensure electricity and water supplies remain stable as public demand spikes. Authorities will continue to monitor the nationwide crisis to mitigate health risks associated with prolonged exposure to this unprecedented heat.