The Korea Meteorological Administration issued South Korea's first-ever extreme heat warning for the cities of Gyeongsan and Pohang on July 13, 2024 [3].

This unprecedented alert marks a critical shift in how the country manages dangerous temperature spikes. The warning was triggered as temperatures in the North Gyeongsang Province approached 40°C [2], posing significant risks to public health and infrastructure.

Weather officials identified a combination of two high-pressure systems, the North Pacific and the Tibetan systems, as the primary drivers of the heat. This atmospheric setup interacted with the region's mountainous terrain to create a Foehn phenomenon, which caused heat to pool in the area [1].

In Gyeongsan, the temperature reached 39.3°C at 2 p.m. on the day the warning was issued [1]. This followed two consecutive days where temperatures remained near 40°C [3].

Residents described the conditions as oppressive. Jeong Dae-ho, a resident of Hayang-eup in Gyeongsan, said the weather was exceptionally hot compared to other years, noting that the air felt stinging and made it difficult to breathe [4].

Local authorities have increased monitoring in Gyeongsangbuk-do to prevent heat-related casualties. The use of the "폭염 중대 경보" (extreme heat warning) allows the government to implement more aggressive emergency measures than standard heat advisories [2].

“South Korea's first-ever extreme heat warning”

The implementation of a new, higher-tier warning system suggests that South Korea is adapting its public safety infrastructure to combat more frequent and intense heatwaves. By identifying specific meteorological triggers like the Foehn phenomenon and dual high-pressure systems, the Korea Meteorological Administration is moving toward a more granular, risk-based approach to climate resilience.