Busan Records Hottest Temperature in 122 Years amid Worst Heatwave

"Sweat is streaming down inside my clothes. It is so hot that it is suffocating."

Busan has been gripped by the worst heatwave on record, with daytime highs soaring to 38.8°C (102°F), the highest since modern meteorological observations began in the city 122 years ago.

On the afternoon of the 29th, at a park in front of the Busan City Hall, workers wrapping up landscaping work had ice packs strapped to their backs.

They wore cooling sleeves on their arms and thoroughly covered their faces and necks with hats and masks to protect them from the intense sunlight.

Holding water bottles in both hands and with ice strapped to their backs, the workers wiped away sweat that continued to pour, saying, "The heat still won't go away."

The entire downtown area boiled like a giant cauldron, making even routine activities a struggle.

Most citizens walking the streets had their clothes soaked in sweat.

People hurriedly sought shelter in the shade of buildings or street trees, seemingly unable to endure even the brief wait for pedestrian crossing signals.

The sheer intensity of the heatwave was palpable as citizens hurried along, some walking with ice packs strapped to their backs and others constantly drinking bottled water.

In the shade of the park in front of Busan City Hall, elderly residents sat at intervals fanning themselves.

Some were seen leaning against benches and chairs, looking exhausted with one pant leg rolled up to the knee and their dress shirts half-unbuttoned.

Even the elderly people who usually gather in groups to play baduk (go) or janggi (Korean chess) turned back early, unable to withstand the murderous heat on this day.

The number of people guarding the deserted baduk boards was less than half the usual crowd.

As the perceived temperature exceeded 35°C (95°F) between 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. when temperatures peaked, local government districts in Busan ordered outdoor field workers to halt their work and recommended taking a break.

These field workers, mostly consisting of seniors in their 60s to 80s, typically perform tasks such as weeding, disinfection, and environmental maintenance.

Extremely vulnerable to heat-related illnesses due to their advanced age and direct exposure to the blazing sun, these workers immediately stopped working in accordance with local government directives, moved to nearby shade or rest areas, and cooled down by drinking cold water.

A local government official said, "It was too hot, so we temporarily halted work," adding, "We are monitoring temperature changes and field conditions in real time, and we will respond flexibly, such as resuming work if conditions improve."

Unlike outdoor work which came to a halt, cooling appliances in downtown shops ran without a break.

At a bakery in Sasang-gu, Busan, cooling devices such as air conditioners and fans operated all day long.

As the scorching heat continued, this bakery turned on an air conditioner that it did not usually use often and even purchased an additional fan.

During the hottest part of the day, the air conditioner's set temperature was lowered by about 2 degrees compared to normal.

Fans were also set up around the bread display shelves because the bread, which needs to cool down after packaging, was not cooling properly due to the high temperatures.

The owner said, "We turn on the air conditioner as soon as we arrive at work to lower the store temperature quickly," and added, "Cold drinks as well as refreshing items like patbingsu (shaved ice) are selling well."

The record-breaking heatwave also changed the landscape of Haeundae Beach, a representative summer resort in Busan.

The daytime sandy beach was baked so hot that it was difficult to walk on barefoot, and the beach, usually crowded with vacationers, was instead deserted in many places.

Tourists visiting Busan flocked to indoor spaces equipped with air conditioning, such as department stores, aquariums, and large cafes, instead of beaches or outdoor tourist spots.

An individual identified by the surname Ahn (38), who visited Busan with family from Seoul, said, "We visited Haeundae Beach and Marine City, but the weather was so hot that we didn't dare do any outdoor sightseeing," adding, "We searched for popular cafes, and everywhere we went was packed with people."

On this day, the temperature at the Busan Meteorological Observatory rose to 38.8°C (102°F) at 2:56 p.m.

This is the highest temperature recorded since modern meteorological observations began in Busan on April 9, 1904.

Busan's previous all-time high temperature was 37.3°C (99°F) recorded on August 14, 2016.

The temperature in Buk-gu, Busan, spiked to 39.0°C (102°F) at one point.
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.