South Korea is grappling with the consequences of a severe heatwave, which has brought the country's highest ever temperatures, resulting in at least 19 deaths. The southern city of Yangsan recorded a high of 42.5C on Sunday, the highest temperature since modern record keeping began in 1904. The heatwave has prompted the government to issue a severe heat warning for Seoul, the first time under a system established this year to respond to rising temperatures.
The heatwave has had a significant impact on daily life in South Korea, with baseball games cancelled, and reports of fans fainting at stadiums. The Korea Baseball Organization announced that all 10 games scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday were cancelled due to the heat. Additionally, a zoo reported the death of lions suspected to have died from heat-stroke. The scenes illustrate the extreme temperatures that have gripped South Korea, as well as neighboring countries, including North Korea and Japan.
In North Korea, authorities have issued a heat wave advisory in many areas, and a doctor has advised people to eat dog meat to promote stamina. Min Son Yong, deputy director of the internal medicine department at Pyongyang General Hospital, suggested that people should eat dog meat and fish porridge to supplement protein and beat the heat. This advice reflects the traditional view in North Korea that dog meat, known as "dangogi," or sweet meat, is a stamina food, often eaten during the hottest time of the year.
Japan has also been affected by the heatwave, with its anti-disaster agency reporting that over 18,000 people were transported to hospitals with heat stroke symptoms during the week of July 20 to 26. In South Korea, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety reported that about 2,220 people have been diagnosed with heat-related illnesses, and 19 have died, since mid-May. The heatwave has also had a significant impact on livestock, with about 17,140 animals, including chickens, ducks, and pigs, and about 160,000 farmed fish, reported to have died.
President Lee Jae Myung has instructed officials to view the ongoing heat wave as "a national disaster" and make every effort to protect lives. The government's response to the heatwave is likely to be closely watched, as the country struggles to cope with the extreme temperatures. As the heatwave continues, the number of deaths and illnesses related to the heat is likely to rise, posing a significant challenge to the government and health authorities in South Korea and neighboring countries.
