{
  "id": 353682,
  "title": "S Korea's heat-related illness in late summer up threefold over past decade",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/09/s-koreas-heat-related-illness-in-late-summer-up-threefold-over-past",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-09T06:05:16.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "New Straits Times",
    "slug": "new-straits-times",
    "url": "https://www.nst.com.my/world/world/2026/08/1507455/s-koreas-heat-related-illness-late-summer-threefold-over-past-decade"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "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.",
  "summary": "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.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "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."
}