South Korea has experienced three distinct periods of record-breaking summer heat in 1994, 2018, and 2024 [1].
These escalating temperature peaks signal a shift in the region's climate patterns, with each subsequent heatwave surpassing previous benchmarks for duration and intensity.
The year 1994 remains a significant marker in public memory as the first extreme heatwave [1]. During that summer, the country recorded 29.6 heat-wave days [1] and 16.8 tropical-night days [1].
By 2018, the intensity of these events increased. On Aug. 1 of that year, temperatures in Hongcheon soared to 41 °C [1] while Seoul reached 39.6 °C [1]. That summer also saw a record of 31 heat-wave days [1].
Recent data indicates that 2024 further pushed these boundaries. The city of Yangsan recorded a temperature of 42.5 °C [1]. Additionally, 2024 saw the longest period of tropical nights on record, lasting 24.5 days [1].
According to reports from YTN, 2024 also posted the highest average summer temperature on record [1]. An anchor for the network said this summer is continuing to break historical records daily, following the peak in tropical nights [1].
Climate change is the primary driver behind these rising temperatures [1]. This trend has led to a cycle where each new heatwave breaks the records of the previous ones, prompting growing concerns regarding future environmental extremes [1].
“2024 saw the longest period of tropical nights on record, lasting 24.5 days.”
The progression from the 1994 heatwave to the 2024 records demonstrates a trend of increasing volatility in South Korea's summer climate. The shift is not only seen in peak temperatures, such as the 42.5 °C reading in Yangsan, but also in the duration of 'tropical nights,' which prevents nocturnal cooling and increases the physiological strain on the population.
