South Korea recorded 72 patients with heat-related illnesses on July 31, 2026, though no deaths occurred that day [1].
The figures highlight the ongoing danger of an extreme heat wave that has affected nearly every province in the country. The persistence of these temperatures poses a significant public health risk to both outdoor laborers and people in indoor environments.
According to reporting from YTN, 79% of the cases occurred in outdoor settings such as workplaces, fields, and roadsides [1]. However, over 20% of the patients were affected while indoors [1]. Reporter Kim Ju-young said that the number of patients occurring indoors is also significant and requires caution [1].
The geographic distribution of the illnesses spanned most of the country, excluding Jeju and Sejong. Gyeonggi province reported the highest number of cases with 13 patients [1]. Gyeongsang-nam-do and Incheon each recorded more than 10 cases [1].
This spike is part of a larger trend of extreme weather this summer. Kim Ju-young said that the number of daily patients has exceeded 50 for 10 consecutive days [1].
Since the tracking period began on May 15, 2026, the cumulative total of heat-related illness patients has reached 1,781 [1]. The total number of deaths since that date is 13 [1]. These figures follow a volatile week where daily reports fluctuated; for instance, 76 patients and two deaths were reported on July 30, while more than 70 patients and two deaths were recorded on July 29 [10, 12].
“79% of the cases occurred in outdoor settings such as workplaces, fields, and roadsides.”
The data indicates that while outdoor labor remains the primary risk factor, the rising percentage of indoor heat-illness cases suggests that residential and commercial cooling may be insufficient during extreme heat waves. The consistent daily toll of over 50 patients reflects a sustained weather event rather than a brief spike, placing prolonged pressure on the national healthcare system.
