Sweltering Heat on 'Jungbok': Citizens Flock to Urban Summer Retreats

[Anchor]

True to Jungbok, the second of the three hottest periods of summer, heatwave warnings have been issued across most of the country. Severe heatwave emergency alerts have even been issued in parts of the southern regions. Citizens have been flocking continuously to any place where they can escape the heat, even for a moment.

Reporter Kim Gyu-ri captured the scenes.

[Reporter]

People surrender their bodies to the refreshing falling water.

They slide down water slides, blowing away the intense heat.

On one side of the square's sandy area, the beach atmosphere is brought fully to life.

The middle of the city has transformed into a beach.

[Lee Dong-gyu & Lee Da-eun / Bucheon, Gyeonggi Province: It was so hot today, so we came to cool off from the intense heat like this. Our child loves it so much... It's cool and great.]

[Lee Seung-jun / Mapo-gu, Seoul: I came with my friend. We came to swim. Playing in the water makes it not hot.]

---

People forget the heat while gazing at the cool stream of water plunging beneath the waterfall, and a baby experiencing its first summer enjoys a leisurely time listening to the pleasant sound of water.

[Woo Sang-won, Woo Je-in & Kim Ji-hee / Mapo-gu, Seoul: The weather is really hot, but seeing the waterfall and things makes me feel like it's cooling down, so I feel good. (The baby) is 8 months old. It's her first summer. It's her first time seeing a waterfall too.]

Foreign tourists also set out to find urban summer retreats.

[Yokota Rin, Yokota Hinata & Yokota Setsuko: We came from Japan for a trip. Seoul is hotter than Tokyo. So we wanted to go somewhere a bit cool.]

---

The Boryeong Mud Festival has also kicked off.

People briefly bury the sweltering heat in the muddy water and enjoy the midsummer festival.

[Kim Na-yeon & So Yeon-hee / Cheonan, South Chungcheong Province: Coming with friends and playing while getting mud on us makes it more fun, and I want to come again next year.]

While severe heatwave emergency alerts, the highest-tier heatwave warning level newly established this year, were issued in various parts of the country including Yangsan and Uiryeong in South Gyeongsang Province, Goryeong in North Gyeongsang Province, Dalseong in Daegu, and Gwangyang in South Jeolla Province, daytime highs reached 39.1°C (102°F) in Yangsan, South Gyeongsang Province; 38.7°C (102°F) in Hwangseong, Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province; and 38.5°C (101°F) in Miryang, South Gyeongsang Province.

The intense heat is expected to continue for the time being, with daytime temperatures rising up to 38°C (100°F) throughout next week and tropical nights occurring in most parts of the country.

(Video Reported by Kim Young-hwan from TJB and Kim Sung-soo | Video Edited by Choi Hye-ran)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.