Asia & Pacific
People walk through a fountain tunnel to cool off at Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul on July 12, 2026. (AFP/Jade Gao)
South Korea issued its first-ever emergency heatwave alert on Sunday under a new warning system launched this year, advising people to halt outdoor activities and keep cool.The new warning system was introduced to better deal with a rising number of heatwaves in South Korea, which have become longer and more intense, officials said.
An emergency alert is issued when areas experiencing a heatwave are forecast to hit perceived temperatures of 38C or an actual temperature of 39C for one day.
"The Korea Meteorological Administration issued an Emergency Heatwave Warning at 10 a.m. today for two cities in southern North Gyeongsang province – Gyeongsan and Pohang," said chief Lee Mi-seon at a press briefing.
