South Korea’s deadly summer: 16 perished in extreme heat

by Theleaders | August 4, 2026 3:56 pm

SEOUL, Aug 4 — South Korea’s summer heat has killed 16 people so far this year, the interior ministry said today, as the nation swelters in a wave of searing weather.

Between May 15 and and August 2 a total of 2,025 people have suffered heat-related illnesses, of which 16 people have died, a ministry statement said.

South Korea’s heat record has been broken three times over the past week, with the latest all-time high set at 42.5 degrees Celsius in the city of Yangsan on Sunday.

The whole of Seoul was under the highest-level “severe heatwave warning” alert today, with temperatures forecast to soar again close to 40 degrees Celsius.

“Extreme, life-threatening heat is forecast,” the weather agency said in a statement today. 

Source URL: https://theleaders-online.com/south-koreas-deadly-summer-16-perished-in-extreme-heat/