S Korea's heat-related illness in late summer up threefold over past decade
SEOUL: The number of heat-related illness cases reported in late summer nearly tripled in the past 10 years, Yonhap News Agency reported, citing government data on Saturday.
South Korea has seen a threefold increase in heat-related illness cases over the past decade, according to government data cited by the Yonhap News Agency. In 2011-2015, an average of 215 patients were reported annually from ipchu, the traditional start of autumn, to the end of August. This figure surged to 658 cases per year during 2016-2020 and 638 cases in 2021-2025.
Deaths linked to heat-related illnesses also rose from an average of 3.3 patients annually in 2012-2015 to over four patients from 2016 to 2025. In 2024 alone, 1,299 people fell ill due to heat-related issues, with 12 fatalities reported between ipchu and late August. Heat waves are anticipated to persist until late August, with daytime temperatures forecasted to reach between 31-35C nationwide.
On Friday, 202 individuals were treated for heat-related illnesses at emergency rooms across the country, resulting in three deaths. The government initiated a heat-related illness monitoring system on May 15, which has reported 3,089 cases, including 26 deaths.
Written by urgent.news from New Straits Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
