South Korea issues highest heat alert for the first time, covering Gyeongsan and Pohang as felt temperatures pass 35°C

South Korea activated its highest-level heat alert for the first time on Sunday under a system introduced this year to prepare for extreme events linked to climate change.

Trigger criteria and a first-of-its-kind alert

The KMA's new top-level heat alert requires two consecutive days with perceived temperatures at or above 35°C and a forecast of more than 39°C on at least one subsequent day. The system was introduced in 2026 as South Korea braces for more frequent and severe heatwaves linked to a warming climate. Sunday's activation marks the first time any part of the country has met the criteria since the system's debut. The alert was issued at exactly 10:00 a.m. local time (01:00 UTC) and announced by agency director Lee Mi-seon during a press conference.

The two hotspots: Gyeongsan and Pohang

The cities of Gyeongsan and Pohang, both in the southeastern province of North Gyeongsang, recorded felt temperatures above 35°C on Friday, July 10, and Saturday, July 11. On Sunday, the agency forecast at least 38°C, and Lee noted that some weather models pointed to temperatures potentially crossing the 39°C threshold later in the day. Gyeongsan and Pohang are both known for their industrial activity and dense urban populations, making the sudden imposition of an outdoor ban particularly disruptive.

The Korea Meteorological Administration issued an extreme heat alert at 10:00 today for two cities in the southern part of North Gyeongsang province: Gyeongsan and Pohang.

This is the first time this alert has been issued since the system was introduced.

Outdoor activities halted, residents told to shelter

With the alert in effect, authorities ordered the immediate cessation of all outdoor activities. Residents were instructed to seek cool shelter, and the order applies regardless of age or health condition. Lee stressed that even healthy individuals face a dramatically elevated risk of heatstroke, cardiovascular stress, and death under such extreme conditions. Local governments began setting up cooling centres and distributing water, but the abrupt halt to construction, outdoor markets, and sports raised concerns about economic disruption.

The maximum alert indicates conditions in which even healthy people are exposed to a considerably increased risk of serious health problems, including heat-related illnesses and deaths.

Climate adaptation and future risks

The new alert tier is South Korea's latest addition to a series of climate adaptation measures. Officials cite longer and more intense heatwaves each summer, with 2024 and 2025 seeing record-breaking temperatures across the peninsula. The KMA linked the extreme event to the broader pattern of climate change, citing global temperature rises as a driver of longer and more frequent heatwaves. The alert will remain active until temperatures drop and the two-day cumulative criterion is no longer met. No heat-related fatalities had been reported in Gyeongsan or Pohang as of the alert's issuance, but health authorities urged full compliance to avoid the kind of casualties seen in past heat events.