Foreigners in Korea Blown Away by Daegu Heat: "Didn't Know It Could Be This Bad"

As the heatwave continues this summer, foreigners are truly experiencing the power of Daefrica (a portmanteau of Daegu and Africa).

Foreigners from various countries in Africa, Asia, and Europe shared a common sentiment, saying that higher humidity compared to the air temperature makes it feel even hotter than in their home countries.

Even foreigners who have lived in Daegu for several years noted that this year's heatwave feels much more intense than in previous years.

Some even described it as feeling like a "sauna."

International students and dispatched government officials from countries including Kenya, India, Germany, Japan, Kazakhstan, and Vietnam shared vivid personal accounts of surviving the Daegu heat, comparing it to summers in their respective homelands.

Phares Kipkemboi (33), a Kenyan national attending Keimyung University, shook his head regarding the summer heatwave today (July 31), saying, "It feels hotter than in Kenya. This is a heat we completely didn't expect."

"During midday, it feels as if humid heat is wrapping around your body," he said. "I'm getting through each day with the small joy of turning on the air conditioner and eating Korean watermelon."

Mishra Dharam Nath (36), originally from New Delhi, India, mentioned that summer temperatures in his home country exceed 50 degrees Celsius (122 degrees F), but compared the heat in Daegu to a "sauna," complaining that "you sweat much more."

"New Delhi is really hot, too," he explained, "but Daegu is hot in a different way. Especially since there's no breeze and it takes your breath away. I've lived in Daegu for 10 years, but it feels just like being inside a sauna."


Dominik Stengel (29), a government official dispatched from Karlsruhe, Germany, described the heat of "Daefrica" as comparable to Europe, which has been suffering from record-breaking heatwaves.

"Temperatures in Germany have also surpassed 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees F). You can feel that a summer climate change is happening," he said. "The only difference between Europe and Daegu is that Daegu has higher humidity and more air conditioning."

He added, "Because Europe wasn't as hot in the past as it is now, the penetration rate of air conditioning is relatively low. Recently, public institutions such as museums and city halls have been installing air conditioners and opening them up to citizens."

Masahiro Hasegawa (25), a government official dispatched from Izumisano, Japan, expressed surprise that a "Severe Heatwave Warning" was issued due to the humid and hot weather.

"Japan has a climate similar to Korea's, but seeing the government issue guidelines (Severe Heatwave Warnings) made me realize how serious the situation is and how well-established the response system is," he said. "It was also fascinating to see air conditioning working at a bus stop in Suseong-gu."

The two men have been working in Suseong-gu, Daegu—a friendly partner city—since last April for work exchange purposes.

Marzhan (36, female), who comes from Almaty in the Central Asian country of Kazakhstan, is also having a hard time coping with a summer weather distinct from her homeland.

While summer temperatures in Almaty rise above 38 degrees Celsius (100 degrees F), the humidity is low, she noted.

"I've lived in Daegu for 16 years, but the summers are getting hotter by the year," Marzhan complained. "In short, it's like a sauna. It's difficult to live without air conditioning, and I can't sleep without it either."

Trinh Minh Ha (26, female), a Vietnamese student at Keimyung University, said with a smile, "I don't go outside during the day. I go around looking for places with air conditioning, like cafes or shopping malls. A parasol is also a must."

(Photo: Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.