▲ Vacationers cool off from the heat at Haeundae Beach in Busan on the 2nd, as record-breaking heat waves continue. (Photo: Yonhap News)
Haeundae Beach in Busan, which has been experiencing record-breaking heat waves day after day, was packed to the point of not having an inch to spare with vacationers looking to cool off from the heat yesterday (August 2).
As the stifling heat wave recently continued, daytime highs in Busan exceeded 35°C (95°F) on this day, soaring up to 39°C (102°F) in some areas.
Despite the sweltering weather, 270,000 vacationers flocked to Haeundae Beach the previous day, a turnout similar to the peak summer vacation season of last year.
Vacationers exhausted by the unprecedented cauldron-like heat jumped into the sea with inner tubes without a moment's hesitation.
They cooled off by splashing around while letting themselves go with the incoming waves or floating leisurely on inner tubes.
Every time waves rolled in, the laughter of children and cheers of people enjoying the water play burst out all over the beach.
Parts of the beach were so crowded with vacationers that the phrase "half water, half people" felt truly realistic.
Jeong, in his 20s, who was letting the waves carry him while wearing a life jacket, said, "I came to Busan on vacation with my partner from girlfriend, and before leaving, I debated for a long time whether we should postpone our vacation because Busan was even hotter than Seoul." He added, "Now that we are here, it is cool because we can swim in the ocean during the day and take a walk in the sea breeze at night."
With the recent increase in foreign tourists, foreign vacationers were also easily spotted across the beach.
Some foreigners lay under the strong sunlight for a while to enjoy tanning, while others buried their bodies in the sand for sand baths and leisurely enjoyed the beach.
However, as the scorching midday sun beat down, vacationers had no choice but to move their spots under parasols.
Due to the unusually hot weather, long lines of vacationers formed on one side of the beach waiting to rent parasols to escape the blazing sun.
Family vacationers spread mats under parasols to secure spots or took a brief respite from the heat in the shade.
Scenes of people reading books, sharing food they brought along, and catching their breath while drinking cold beverages were visible everywhere.
Park, in his 50s and a resident of Buk-gu who was under a parasol, took a gulp of cold beer and said, "The sandy beach is so hot that I thought it would be hard to just sit on it, so I purposely brought camping chairs and a table." He added, "We plan to drink a cool beverage and escape the heat first before going into the sea to swim with the children."
On the other hand, some vacationers could not beat the extreme heat and returned to their lodgings earlier than expected after visiting the beach.
Kim, in his 40s, who came to Busan for vacation with his family from Gwangju, expressed regret, saying, "I saw the news that Busan was hot this time, but coming here in person, it's suffocating." He added, "Since my child is still young at 5 years old, I don't think we can engage in outdoor activities for long."
Busan has been experiencing record-breaking heat waves, with heavy heat wave warnings recently issued.
On July 29, the daytime high reached 38.8°C (102°F), marking the highest temperature since modern meteorological observations began 122 years ago.
The record-breaking heat wave in Busan this year is analyzed to be the result of overlapping dual high-pressure systems, namely the North Pacific high-pressure system and the Tibetan high-pressure system.
On top of this, westerly and northwesterly winds have flown in, making the perceived heat even more severe.
An official from the Korea Meteorological Administration stated, "In some areas, the peak apparent temperature is expected to rise above 38°C (100°F), presenting extreme heat that can threaten lives, so special caution is required."
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