Heat haze shimmers above asphalt in Yeouido, Yeongdeungpo District, western Seoul, on July 27.NEWS1
The Ministry of the Interior and Safety raised the national heat wave warning level to “severe,” its highest level, at 3 p.m. Monday. It also activated the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters, the government’s top-level emergency response mechanism.
“Scorching heat has spread nationwide the moment monsoon season ended,” Interior Minister Yun Ho-jung, head of the emergency response body, said at a government meeting in Seoul. “The situation is extremely serious.”
Heat wave advisories are in effect across most of the country, with hot weather and tropical nights expected to continue, according to the Korea Meteorological Administration.Parts of the southeastern region that saw little rainfall are now under an emergency heat wave warning, a tier higher than standard advisories.
“We will mount an all-out government response and strengthen safety measures for high-risk groups, including vulnerable residents and outdoor workers,” Yun said.
He directed government agencies and local authorities to prioritize public safety and focus their response on conditions on the ground.
Officials plan to step up monitoring for residents of cramped housing units, the unhoused people and others vulnerable to extreme heat. They will inspect workplaces with outdoor operations for compliance with safety rules. Village leaders and volunteer disaster-prevention teams will join the ministry in checking on older farmers and urging them to avoid outdoor activity.
Interior and Safety Minister Yun Ho-jung chairs a meeting to review heat wave response measures at the Government Complex Seoul in Jongno District, central Seoul, on July 27.YONHAP
Authorities will inspect cooling shelters to confirm they remain open to the public and may expand operating hours if tropical nights continue. Livestock and fish farms are set to receive support installing equipment to prevent heat damage.
Officials will be dispatched to areas under emergency heat wave warnings to oversee local response efforts. Agencies must follow the ministry’s heat wave safety guidelines by shortening monitoring cycles for vulnerable residents and rescheduling outdoor events where necessary. Roads, railways and other infrastructure face inspection to prevent disruptions from power outages.
“People should drink plenty of water and rest during the hottest hours of the day,” Yun said. “Those in areas under emergency heat wave warnings should immediately stop outdoor activities and move somewhere cool.”
This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom.
