{
  "id": 31766,
  "title": "South Korea records its highest-ever temperature of 42.5°C",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/02/south-korea-records-its-highest-ever-temperature-of-42-5-c",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-02T05:54:59.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Malaysia Today",
    "slug": "free-malaysia-today",
    "url": "https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/world/2026/08/02/south-korea-records-its-highest-ever-temperature-of-42-5-c"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "South Korea shattered its all-time high temperature record this Sunday, registering a scorching 42.5°C in the southeastern city of Yangsan, according to the Korea Meteorological Administration. Yangsan has been the focal point of an intense heatwave that has seen temperatures exceed 40°C for five straight days. The Korean state weather agency has issued emergency heatwave alerts for over 20 localities, a new warning level introduced this year. A heatwave alert is activated when forecasted perceived temperatures reach 38°C or actual temperatures hit 39°C for a single day. The frequency of heatwave days in South Korea has more than doubled in the past five years, now averaging 19 annually compared to just eight in the 1970s. Scientists attribute the increasing frequency and intensity of such extreme weather events to human-induced climate change.",
  "summary": "South Korea has recorded its highest-ever temperature of 42.5°C, setting a new record since the state weather agency began tracking such data over a century ago. The southeastern city of Yangsan experienced the extreme heat, with temperatures reaching 42.5°C at 1:26 pm on Sunday, according to the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA). The city has been at the center of a severe heatwave, where temperatures have surpassed 40°C for five consecutive days. As a result, over 20 localities across the country have been placed under emergency heatwave alerts, a category introduced this year to address the rising temperatures more effectively. The KMA has noted that the average number of heatwave days in South Korea has more than doubled to 19 over the past five years, compared to just eight in the 1970s. Scientists warn that the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events like heatwaves are increasing due to human-induced climate change.",
  "key_points": [
    "South Korea records highest-ever temperature of 42.5°C.",
    "Scorching 42.5°C registered in Yangsan, southeastern city.",
    "Heatwave alerts issued for over 20 localities."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Channel News Asia",
        "title": "South Korea records its highest-ever temperature of 42.5°C",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/02/south-korea-records-its-highest-ever-temperature-of-42-5-c-33671",
        "published": "2026-08-02T06:53:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}