People take shelter under an awning that sprays cooling mist at Seoul Forest in Seongdong District, eastern Seoul, on May 14. [YONHAP]
Health authorities reported Saturday that an octogenarian man died from a heat-related illness in Seoul the previous day, marking the earliest such case in the country this year as temperatures surged to midsummer levels in mid-May.
His death came more than a month earlier than last year’s first heat-related fatality, which was reported on June 18 in the southeastern city of Busan, and is now the earliest recorded since the annual monitoring system was introduced.
The man, who lived in Dongdaemun District, eastern Seoul, died the same day the agency launched this year’s heat-related illness surveillance system across 516 emergency rooms nationwide.
His death coincided with an unseasonably early heat wave that pushed temperatures to around 30 degrees Celsius (86 degrees Fahrenheit) nationwide before the weekend.
The country’s average daytime high reached 28.2 degrees Celsius (82.8 degrees Fahrenheit) on Friday, while Seoul recorded a high of 31.3 degrees Celsius, significantly above seasonal norms.
A total of seven people sought emergency treatment for heat-related illnesses on Friday, the first day of surveillance this year, according to KDCA data. Four cases were reported in Gyeonggi, which surrounds Seoul, while Seoul reported two and Incheon one.
Heat-related illnesses refer to acute conditions caused by prolonged exposure to high temperatures and include symptoms such as headaches, dizziness, muscle cramps and fatigue. Severe cases can lead to impaired consciousness or death.
Pedestrians walk with umbrellas to protect themselves from sunlight in eastern Seoul on May 14. [YONHAP]
Among the most dangerous conditions is heatstroke, a medical emergency characterized by a body temperature above 40 degrees Celsius and dysfunction of the central nervous system, requiring immediate treatment.
The KDCA said it moved up the launch of this year’s surveillance system to May 15, five days earlier than its previous May 20 start date, as unseasonably warm temperatures linked to climate change have begun arriving earlier every year.
The system, introduced in coordination with emergency medical institutions nationwide, will remain in operation through Sept. 30 and provides real-time monitoring of heat-related illnesses, with daily figures published on the agency’s website.
Last year’s data showed that men accounted for 79.7 percent of heat illness patients, while people aged 65 or older made up 30 percent of cases.
Most cases occurred at outdoor workplaces, which accounted for 32.1 percent of cases, followed by farms and fields at 12.2 percent. The highest concentration of cases occurred between 2 p.m. and 5 p.m
.
Health experts advised people to avoid strenuous outdoor activities and stay hydrated on hot days, even when no heat advisory has been issued. They also recommend checking temperatures before going outside and avoiding outdoor work or exercise during hours of intense sunlight.
The agency advises people who experience symptoms such as dizziness or nausea to immediately move to a cooler place and rest, while older adults, children, pregnant women and those with chronic conditions such as high blood pressure or diabetes should take extra precautions, as they are more vulnerable to heat-related illnesses.
“Heat-related illnesses can be sufficiently prevented simply by following basic health guidelines,” said KDCA Commissioner Lim Seung-kwan. “On days with high temperatures, people should avoid excessive outdoor activity, and particular attention should be paid to the health of those most vulnerable to heat exposure.”
This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom.
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