South Korea elevated its Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters to level 2 response on Sunday to combat a prolonged record heatwave [1].
The escalation signals a shift toward a full-government response as extreme temperatures threaten public health and agriculture. The move follows forecasts that more than 108 districts would experience daily peak perceived temperatures exceeding 35 degrees Celsius [1].
Prime Minister Han Seong-suk and Minister of the Interior and Safety Yoon Ho-joong are overseeing the response. The government has ordered the deployment of field general managers to ensure coordinated action across the country [1]. This is the second time a level 2 alert has been issued since August 2023 [1].
The heatwave has been particularly severe in the southern regions, including Gyeongsangnam-do and Gyeongsangbuk-do. These areas are currently grappling with a combination of extreme heat and drought [2].
To mitigate the damage, the government has allocated significant financial resources. Authorities provided 5.75 billion won in special grant taxes to support regions suffering from drought [3]. Additionally, 170 million won in relief project funds has been designated for heatwave victims in the southern region [3].
Official activation of the level 2 response occurred at 1 p.m. KST on Aug. 2 [1]. The Ministry of the Interior and Safety said the government will continue to monitor temperature trends and deploy resources to the most vulnerable areas to prevent casualties.
“South Korea elevated its Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters to level 2 response”
The escalation to level 2 indicates that the current heatwave has surpassed standard seasonal expectations, requiring a centralized command structure. By combining heat relief with drought funding, the government is acknowledging a compounding climate crisis in the southern provinces where water scarcity and extreme heat intersect to threaten food security and infrastructure.
