Temperatures in Yangsan, South Gyeongsang Province, have exceeded 41 °C for three consecutive days as a severe heat wave grips South Korea [1].

The persistence of these extreme temperatures has triggered critical heat warnings across the region. This weather pattern threatens public health and disrupts daily activity, forcing residents to find unconventional ways to cool down during the peak of the day.

In Yangsan, the temperature reached a peak of 41.2 °C [1]. The heat is not isolated to one city; Gimhae recorded 38.9 °C, while Seoul's Dongdaemun and Gangseo districts reached 35.9 °C [1]. Forecasters expect midday temperatures in Seoul to hit 37 °C early next week [1].

Extreme-heat warnings have expanded to include Gyeongju, Gyeongsan, Daegu, and Sacheon [1]. Meteorologists said the weather is driven by a persistent heat wave and a shift in wind direction that moved extreme heat from the southeast toward the western regions of the country [1].

To escape the surface heat, tourists and residents have flocked to a cave in Gwangmyeong, Gyeonggi Province. While the outside temperature in Gwangmyeong hovered around 33 °C, the interior of the cave remained at approximately 12 °C [1].

"The inside of the cave is around 12 degrees, so it is very cool," a caster for YTN said [1].

The extreme conditions have led to record-breaking streaks in the south. The caster for YTN said Yangsan's temperature rose quickly to 41.2 °C, marking a series of new records [1].

Local authorities continue to monitor the situation as the extreme heat persists across the Jeonnam and Yeongnam regions [1].

“Yangsan has endured three straight days with temperatures above 41 °C.”

The emergence of three-day streaks above 41 °C indicates a shift toward more volatile and extreme summer peaks in South Korea. The reliance on natural geological features, such as the Gwangmyeong cave, for temperature regulation highlights the increasing gap between urban infrastructure capabilities and the reality of intensifying heat waves.