SEOUL—A new report from Greenpeace reveals a significant increase in the number of extreme heat days in major South Korean cities over the last decade. The environmental group's analysis of meteorological data shows that such days have more than doubled compared to the previous decade.
According to Yonhap News Agency, an average of 51.1 days of extreme heat, characterized by apparent temperatures reaching or exceeding 35°C, were recorded annually in 25 cities from 2014 to 2023. This is a stark increase from the 21 days reported from 2004 to 2013. Cities like Gumi and Gwangju experienced the highest surge, with Gumi's count rising from 23 to 106 days and Gwangju's from 35 to 105 days. The report indicates that the duration of heatwaves has also extended, with recent episodes lasting an average of 2.4 days, up from 1.9 days in the previous decade. Greenpeace activist Lee Sun-ju emphasized the urgent need for governmental action on climate change and reducing greenhouse gas emissions to mitigate these rising temperatures.