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President Lee Jae Myung declares national disaster as South Korea records highest temperature in 122 years

President Lee Jae Myung declared a national disaster on Tuesday as South Korea grapples with a record-breaking heatwave. The country recorded its highest temperature in 122 years of weather observations on Sunday, reaching 42.5 degrees Celsius in the southeastern city of Yangsan. This extreme weather has resulted in 19 deaths and over 2,000 people treated for heat-related illnesses since mid-May. To combat the heat, Seoul authorities have launched initiatives such as spraying roads with water and conducting health checks on 63,000 vulnerable residents. However, the heatwave highlights a significant wealth gap in the capital. While affluent residents in the Gangnam district enjoy modern air conditioning, residents of the Guryong Village shanty town suffer in makeshift homes with limited cooling. The Korea Meteorological Administration attributed the heatwave to overlapping high-pressure systems and strong sunlight. Scientists warn that these events are becoming more frequent and intense due to human-induced climate change.

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