Even after the solar term ‘Ipchu’, which marks the start of autumn, the heat wave is expected to continue. Temperatures will begin to edge down this weekend, but it will still be hotter than in ordinary years. On the 6th, the daytime high in Seoul (based on the Jongno-gu Songwol-dong weather observatory) rose to 37.9 degrees, setting the highest reading of the year for Seoul. According to Korea Meteorological Administration automated weather observing system (AWS) records, the daytime high in the Yongsan District of Seoul soared to 39.9 degrees, the hottest in the nation.

President Lee Jae Myung said, “An extreme heat wave that we have not experienced before is continuing day after day,” and added, “Mobilize all administrative capacity.” The Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) decided to cancel all 15 games that were scheduled to be held at five stadiums nationwide from the 7th to the 9th.

In its regular briefing that day, the Korea Meteorological Administration forecast, “Even on the 7th, Ipchu, an extreme heat wave will continue, with daytime highs nationwide surging to 39 degrees.” From Saturday the 8th, temperatures will fall by 1 to 3 degrees depending on the region, but it will still be hot, especially in western areas, with temperatures around 35 degrees. Nationwide daytime highs are expected to be 27 to 36 degrees on the 8th and 26 to 36 degrees on the 9th.

Typhoon Dolphin, the 13th of the season, moving west over waters about 560㎞ east of Okinawa, Japan, is projected to pass without having any particular impact on Korea.

Next week as well, with clear skies prevailing nationwide, very hot weather is expected to continue, with highs fluctuating between 35 and 36 degrees. Lee Gwang-Yeon, a forecast analyst at the Korea Meteorological Administration, explained, “With the weekend as a turning point, the center of the high-pressure system will shift and is expected to settle around the periphery of the Korean Peninsula next week.”

The Ministry of Health and Welfare said that since May 15, when the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency began operating its emergency department surveillance system for heat-related illness, presumed deaths have occurred predominantly among those aged 80 and older. From May 15 to the 4th of this month, a total of 2,441 patients with heat-related illness were reported to emergency departments nationwide. Of these, 300 (12.3%) were aged 80 or older. During the same period, there were a total of 21 presumed deaths from heat-related illness, with those in their 80s and older accounting for 13 (61.9%), the highest number.

At a meeting held that day to review responses to the heat wave and drought, President Lee said, “Given the high likelihood that the heat wave will persist, we must activate an all-out response system with a sense of urgency.”