Yangsan city in Gyeongsangnam-do recorded a temperature of 39.3 °C on Sunday, the highest temperature measured in South Korea this year [1].
The spike in temperature has triggered an expansion of extreme-heat warnings across the Yeongnam region, signaling a dangerous weather pattern that threatens public health and infrastructure.
Authorities expanded the extreme-heat alert to 14 locations across the region [1]. The affected areas include Yangsan, Daegu, Gyeongju, Miryang, and Gyeongsangbuk-do [2]. These alerts are issued when the maximum perceived temperature reaches 38 °C and the maximum daytime temperature stays at or above 39 °C for more than one day [1].
Reporter Park So-jung of YTN said the temperature in Yangsan climbed to 39.3 °C around 1 p.m. and remained at that level during the report [1]. Park said this mark represents the highest temperature recorded nationwide so far this year [1].
While the Yeongnam region faced extreme conditions, other parts of the country experienced milder but still significant heat. Park said the temperature in Seoul had risen to 32.6 °C [1].
The current heatwave is driven by intense weather patterns concentrated over the Yeongnam region, a geographic area in the southeast of the peninsula, which has led to the issuance of the 중대경보, or extreme-heat alert [2].
“"This mark represents the highest temperature recorded nationwide so far this year."”
The expansion of extreme-heat alerts to 14 locations indicates a severe regional weather event rather than an isolated spike. By reaching the specific threshold of 39 °C for extended periods, the Yeongnam region is entering a high-risk window for heat-related illnesses, necessitating government-level interventions and public health warnings to manage the impact of the 2026 summer peak.
