President Lee Jae Myung calls for national crisis system overhaul as South Korea faces record-breaking heatwave
President Lee Jae Myung called on officials to take necessary measures to protect citizens and inspect power systems as South Korea faces a severe heatwave. The nation recorded its highest temperature in 122 years of observations, with the city of Yangsan reaching 42.5C. The heatwave has caused 16 fatalities and over 2,000 people treated for heat-related illnesses since May. Seoul authorities have launched initiatives to counter the heat, including spraying water on roads and conducting health checks on 63,000 vulnerable residents. The Korea Meteorological Administration attributed the heatwave to overlapping high-pressure systems and strong sunlight. Scientists warn that human-induced climate change is making these extreme weather events more frequent and intense. The heatwave is also affecting other regions globally, with severe heat persisting in Japan, wildfires in Europe and North Africa, and record-breaking temperatures in the western United States.