South Korea's Lee calls heatwave a national disaster as deaths rise to 19

COOLING OFF. Children play at a ground fountain to cool down during a heatwave warning in Seoul, South Korea, on August 3, 2026.

Kim Hong-Ji

The nation's weather agency says Yangsan, a southeastern inland city sitting in a basin, recorded a temperature of 42.5 degrees Celsius on August 2, the highest temperature measured in 122 years of weather observations

SEOUL, South Korea – South Korean President Lee Jae-myung urged on Tuesday, August 4, authorities to step up support for people affected by a record heatwave in the country, calling it a national disaster after scorching conditions were blamed for 19 deaths.

Speaking at a cabinet meeting, Lee ordered officials to take necessary measures to protect the daily lives of people and inspect power systems as demand for air conditioning surges.