Busan Hits 38.8°C (101.8°F), Highest Temperature in 122 Years as Beaches Empty Out for Indoors

"Sweat is streaming down inside my clothes. It is so hot that it takes my breath away."

Busan was gripped by the worst heatwave on record as its daytime high soared to 38.8°C (101.8°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 Busan City Hall, workers wrapping up landscaping work had ice packs strapped to their backs.

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

Holding water bottles in both hands, wrapped up entirely, and even with ice pressed against their backs, the workers wiped away endless streams of sweat, saying, "The heat still will not go away."

With the entire downtown area boiling like a giant cauldron, even routine activities became a struggle.

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

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

The sheer force of the heatwave was evident in citizens walking briskly with ice packs strapped to their bodies or continuously drinking bottled water.

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

Some were seen with one trouser leg rolled up to the knee and their dress shirt buttons half-unbuttoned, leaning against benches and chairs with exhausted expressions.

Even the elderly residents who usually gathered in groups to play baduk (go) or janggi (Korean chess) cut their outings short, unable to withstand the murderous heat on this day.

The number of people guarding the lonely abandoned baduk boards was less than half the usual count.

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

Mostly consisting of older adults in their 60s to 80s, these field workers typically perform tasks such as weeding, disinfection, and environmental maintenance.

Vulnerable to heat-related illnesses due to their advanced age and direct exposure to the blazing sun, they stopped working simultaneously in accordance with the local government's instructions, moved to nearby shade or rest areas, and cooled off by drinking cold water.

An official from a local government said, "It was too hot, so we temporarily stopped work," adding, "We are monitoring temperature changes and on-site conditions in real-time, and will respond flexibly by resuming work if conditions improve."

Unlike the suspension of outdoor work, air conditioning units in downtown commercial districts ran without a break.

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

Due to the persistent heatwave, this bakery turned on air conditioners that were not usually used frequently and purchased additional fans.

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

Fans were also set up around the bread display shelves because the bread, which needed to cool down before packaging, refused to cool due to the high temperatures.

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

The record-breaking heatwave also transformed 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 barefoot, and parts of the shore, usually crowded with vacationers, were instead completely empty.

Tourists visiting Busan flocked to indoor air-conditioned facilities such as department stores, aquariums, and large cafes instead of beaches or outdoor tourist spots.

A 38-year-old surnamed Ahn, who visited Busan with his family from Seoul, said, "We visited Haeundae Beach and Marine City, but it was too hot to even dare doing outdoor sightseeing," adding, "We looked for popular cafes, but everywhere we went was packed with people."

On this day, the temperature at the Busan Meteorological Station rose to 38.8°C (101.8°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 (99.1°F) recorded on August 14, 2016.

The temperature in Buk-gu, Busan, briefly surged to 39.0°C (102.2°F).
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.