Average temperatures in Seoul have risen by 3.7°C [2], a rate approximately 2.3 times faster than the global average [3].
This disparity suggests that the South Korean capital is experiencing an accelerated warming trend that exceeds general planetary shifts, potentially increasing the city's vulnerability to extreme heat events.
Kim Baek-min, a professor in the Department of Environmental Atmospheric Sciences at Pukyong National University, said that since modern observations began, the global average temperature has increased by about 1.5 to 1.6°C [1]. However, the increase in Seoul has reached 3.7°C [2].
Professor Kim identified several converging factors driving this rapid increase. He said the most fundamental cause is the sharp rise in sea temperatures in the waters surrounding South Korea. This oceanic warming creates a baseline of higher heat that affects the peninsula.
Atmospheric conditions also play a critical role during the summer months. Kim said that South Korea is a region influenced simultaneously by the Tibetan high and the North Pacific high pressure systems. These combined systems can trap heat and intensify temperature spikes across the region.
Beyond natural and regional climate drivers, the professor pointed to the physical evolution of the city itself. He said the rapid urbanization of Seoul is a major factor in the temperature climb. This phenomenon, often referred to as the urban heat island effect, occurs when concrete and asphalt absorb and retain heat more effectively than natural landscapes.
Kim said the current trajectory of Seoul's temperature increase is at a level of concern.
“Seoul's average temperature has risen 3.7°C, about 2.3 times faster than the global average.”
The acceleration of warming in Seoul illustrates how local factors—such as rapid urban expansion and specific regional geography—can amplify the effects of global climate change. While the world faces a general warming trend, the convergence of the Tibetan and North Pacific high-pressure systems combined with the urban heat island effect creates a localized crisis. This suggests that urban centers in East Asia may require more aggressive, city-specific cooling strategies and infrastructure adaptations than those suggested by global average projections.
