‘Stop all outdoor activities’ — South Korea’s highest-ever temperature reached in Yangsan as heatwave forces Changwon baseball game cancellation

South Korea has experienced its highest temperature ever recorded, reaching 42.5C in Yangsan on Sunday, as the nation grapples with an intense heatwave. The Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) has urged residents to “immediately stop all outdoor activities” due to the extreme conditions.¹²

The heatwave has persisted for five consecutive days, with many cities, including Daegu and Busan, reporting temperatures in the high 30s. More than 20 localities are under emergency heatwave alerts, a new warning category introduced this year to address rising temperatures. An emergency alert is issued when areas forecast to hit perceived temperatures of 38C or an actual temperature of 39C for the day.

In Changwon, the professional baseball league canceled a game as temperatures reached 39.5C, marking the second consecutive cancellation in the city. The Korea Baseball Organization stated, “The decision was made with the safety and health of spectators and players as the top priority” amid ongoing severe heatwave warnings.³

Residents are seeking refuge in air-conditioned spaces, with many gathering in shopping malls and cafes. Ju Dong-yeol, 27, expressed, “It is too hot to be outside doing anything”, highlighting the widespread impact of the heatwave. The KMA noted that the average annual number of heatwave days in South Korea has more than doubled to 19 in the past five years, emphasizing the growing frequency of such extreme weather events, which scientists attribute to human-induced climate change.