Busan Sleepless Amid Historic Heatwave; Haeundae Crowded During Tropical Nights

"I was worried that leaving the air conditioner on all day would run up an unbearable electricity bill, so I came out to feel the cool ocean breeze at night," said Kim, a person in their 30s walking barefoot on the sandy beach with their three-year-old baby in hand at Haeundae Beach in Busan on the night of the 30th, as historic heat scorched the city.

"Since we have a baby at home, we have no choice but to run the air conditioning all day," Kim said. "I am so worried about next month's electricity bill, so I came out even at night to cool off, but I'm scared that next month will be even hotter."

On this day, when the daytime high reached 38.5°C (101°F), temperatures in Busan lingered at 29°C (84°F) even after sunset.

As tropical nights continued for the 11th consecutive day, citizens flocked to the beach late into the night to soothe their heat-exhausted bodies.

Night owl vacationers gathered on the shore, spreading mats or laying down wooden boards on the sand to catch the ocean breeze.

Some people brought camping chairs and tables to admire the crashing waves.

Couples and families shared cool drinks and food they had brought, forgetting the scorching heat for a moment.

"Even though I came to the beach around sunset after finishing work, the sand baked during the day was still hot," said Jang, a person in their 30s drinking beer on a mat. "It wasn't until quite a while later that the breeze finally turned cool."

Although entering the water is prohibited at night, the sea was crowded with visitors cooling off by dipping their feet in the waves.

People walking along the coastline were busy cooling down, holding their shoes in one hand while fanning themselves or adjusting their clothes.

"I walk around the beach area every day, and there seem to be unusually many people out today," said Bae, a person in their 60s who was taking a walk. "It was so hot during the day that it was hard to even go outside, but coming to the seaside gives me some breathing room."

Citizens also stopped by the promenade to watch street performances and forget the midsummer night's sweltering heat.

Even on a night when temperatures refused to drop, some citizens were seen running while shedding heavy drops of sweat.

"I heard the daytime temperature approached 39°C (102°F) today so I didn't want to exercise, but I overate so I had no choice but to come out," said Park, a person in their 30s. "There are a lot of people, but the breeze is cooler than expected, so it's manageable to run."

Meanwhile, Busan, which historically enjoyed a relatively mild maritime climate in the summer, has been experiencing a record-breaking heatwave recently, with a severe heatwave warning issued.

The previous day, the daytime high hit 38.8°C (102°F), marking the highest temperature in 122 years since modern meteorological observations began.

The reason behind Busan's record-breaking heatwave this year is the influence of a dual high-pressure system, formed by the overlap of the North Pacific high-pressure system and the Tibetan high-pressure system.

Additionally, the inflow of westerly and northwesterly winds has further intensified the perceived heat.

An official from the Korea Meteorological Administration said, "In some areas, the maximum perceived temperature is expected to rise above 38°C (100°F), bringing extreme heat that threatens lives, so special caution is required."

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