[Weather] "Monsoon Ends, Nationwide Scorching Heat Continues"... Perceived Temperatures Soar to 38°C

Tropical Nights Persist Across Most Regions
Caution Advised for Heat-Related Illnesses

With the monsoon season effectively ending in the last week of July, intense heatwaves are expected to continue nationwide. In the southern regions, the perceived temperature has risen to 38 degrees Celsius, leading to heat-related illnesses.

On the 26th, when a heatwave advisory was issued across Seoul, a digital billboard on Myeongdong Street in Seoul displayed a heatwave-related notice. July 26, 2026. Photo by Yonhap News.

According to the Korea Meteorological Administration on July 26, some southern areas such as Jeollanam-do, Gyeongsangbuk-do, Gyeongsangnam-do, and Daegu, where a heatwave emergency warning has been issued, experienced peak perceived temperatures of around 38 degrees Celsius. As of 2 p.m. that day, Yangsan in Gyeongsangnam-do recorded a daytime high of 39.3 degrees Celsius. In Seoul, the metropolitan area, as well as Gangwon, Chungcheong, and Jeju, perceived temperatures also reached around 36 degrees Celsius.

As the heat continues, a suspected heat-related death was reported in Gwangju, Jeollanam-do. At approximately 3:15 p.m. the previous day, a Thai national in his 30s collapsed after complaining of dizziness while working in a field in Hwangsan-myeon, Haenam-gun, Gwangju-Jeollanam-do Special City, and was taken to the hospital, but later died. According to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency's emergency room surveillance system for heat-related illnesses, as of July 23, a total of 1,232 heat-related cases have been reported nationwide this year, with five fatalities.

The daytime heat has persisted into the night. From 6 p.m. the previous day to 6 a.m. on July 26, the minimum nighttime temperature stayed above 25 degrees Celsius in most parts of the country, resulting in a "tropical night" phenomenon. In Busan, this tropical night has continued for a week.

With the stagnant front dissipating, the monsoon is effectively over. According to the Korea Meteorological Administration, showers caused by atmospheric instability are expected in most regions on July 26, and mainly in the metropolitan area and Gangwon on July 27. The expected precipitation is as follows: 10–50 mm in Seoul, Incheon, and Gyeonggi; 10–50 mm in Gangwon; 5–40 mm in Chungbuk; 5–30 mm in Daejeon, Sejong, and Chungnam; 5–30 mm in Jeonbuk; 5–40 mm in Daegu and Gyeongbuk; 5–30 mm in central inland Gyeongnam; and around 5 mm in Jeju.

The Korea Meteorological Administration stated, "Today and tomorrow, in regions where showers occur, temperatures may temporarily drop, but after the showers cease, temperatures will rise again amid high humidity, resulting in continued heat."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.