SEOUL — South Korea is nearing its second-highest record for heat-related illnesses, with the total number of cases surpassing 2,800 as the nation grapples with an intense heat wave. The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) continues to monitor the situation closely, with statistics indicating an alarming trend in heat-related health issues.
According to Yonhap News Agency, 41 new cases were reported on Monday, bringing the total to 2,814 since May 20, when the agency began its annual monitoring of heat-related illnesses. This figure is just shy of the 2,818 cases recorded in 2011, the second-highest in the country’s history. The highest number of cases was recorded in 2018, with 4,526 instances. This year, the heat has already been linked to 24 deaths, with men comprising 77.3 percent of the total cases. Individuals in their 50s and 60s are notably affected, representing 18.7 percent and 18.6 percent of the cases, respectively, and manual workers are the most impacted, making up 22.6 percent of the total.
The Korean Society of Emergency Medicine has issued warnings that heat-related illnesses can strike even in the early morning hours, as individuals start their day earlier to avoid the more severe heat later on. This ongoing health crisis coincides with record-breaking power demands due to the extreme temperatures. The Korea Power Exchange reported that the country’s maximum power demand hit a historic high of 95.6 gigawatts at 6 p.m., marking the fifth record-setting instance this summer.
Further complicating matters, Typhoon Jongdari is influencing weather conditions in the region. Currently positioned about 200 kilometers west of Japan’s Okinawa, the typhoon is moving northward toward the western side of the Korean Peninsula, as reported by the Korea Meteorological Administration. It is expected to pass southwest of Jeju Island on Tuesday morning and weaken by Wednesday as it moves over waters southwest of Seosan in South Chungcheong Province. The unpredictable nature of Typhoon Jongdari’s path continues to pose a risk for sustained high power demands and further heat-related health concerns throughout the week.