"It Feels Like Winter, Not Summer"... Downtown Ice Rinks Packed Amid Heat Waves

"The heat wave was so severe that we came to the ice rink, and it is so refreshingly cool that I cannot tell if it is summer or winter."

On the afternoon of the 30th, at the ice rink of the Gimhae Arts and Center Civic Sports Center in Gimhae, South Gyeongsang Province, where a serious heat wave warning—the highest level of heat wave advisory—was in effect.

Temperatures in Gimhae soared well past 38°C (100°F) past 2 p.m.

However, unlike the outside weather where just standing still makes it hard to breathe, the temperature inside the ice rink dropped to a chilly 11°C (52°F), radiating a blast of cold air that made people feel cold.

Amid the intense heat wave, having to wear long sleeves and thin jackets was a welcome relief.

Most citizens circled the ice rink wearing outerwear or gloves.

The joyful excitement could be seen on the faces of children who occasionally slipped and laughed.

On this day, about 150 citizens, ranging from students to adults, visited the Gimhae ice rink to enjoy a "winter in the middle of a heat wave."

Yang, a 20-year-old who came with friends, said, "It was so hot today that my friends and I came to the ice rink for the first time, and it is so cool that it feels chilly and refreshing. It is even more fun to ice skate in such a cool place during this extreme heat, and my friends are satisfied."

Song, a 12-year-old who visited the ice rink with his 9-year-old younger sibling, said, "It is even better because the ice rink is cool and spacious so we can have fun skating. We can also avoid the heat by eating delicious snacks at the snack bar, so I should come here often during the vacation."

Due to the ongoing heat wave, the ice rink draws about 200 people on weekdays and up to 400 people on weekends.

Capitalizing on this unexpected boom, the Gimhae Cultural and Tourism Foundation has prepared various events.

First, the foundation will host the "3rd Ice Rink Movie Screening," an ice cinema concept, at the ice rink from the 1st to the 2nd of next month.

A total of 2,000 visitors are expected to be accommodated across four sessions over the two days, with 500 visitors per session, and reservations are already fully booked.

In particular, this year features an improved viewing environment with a large 388-inch LED screen installed, preceded by a figure skating demonstration.

The foundation also plans to hold a snow play event later this month by scattering artificial snow in the rink so citizens can enjoy making snowmen.

Yoon Chul, a senior manager at the Gimhae Cultural and Tourism Foundation, said, "With the students' summer vacation and the continuing heat wave, the number of citizens visiting the ice rink is increasing day by day. We will continue to prepare more diverse programs so that citizens can beat the heat and enjoy cultural life in a cool ice rink."

At the Uichang Sports Center Ice Rink in Changwon, which was also under the same heavy heat wave warning as Gimhae, visitors of all age groups—ranging from preschoolers and teenagers to adults—continued to pour in.

Lee Seung-ah, a woman in her 40s who visited the ice rink from Haman with her middle school daughter, said, "We come here once or twice every year, and this is my first time visiting the ice rink this year. Haman does not have an ice rink, so it is really nice to have one nearby."

Changwon citizen Park So-young added, "It was so hot outside, so I brought my 6-year-old and 7-year-old children here for their vacation. It was colder than expected, so I had to bring long-sleeve clothes in the middle. It is a great place to escape the heat in weather like this."

In fact, the number of visitors to the Uichang Sports Center Ice Rink has surged recently as the heat wave intensifies.

Compared to 1,444 visitors for the entire month of June last month, a total of 3,228 people visited the ice rink from the 1st of this month through the 29th.

The Uichang Sports Center also operates the basement level 1 ice rink spectator seating as a "extreme heat relief shelter" open to all citizens, serving effectively as an urban summer resort.

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