"The weather is horribly hot. Still, it's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Even if it's hot, I had to wear a Hanbok!"

Elena, a 25-year-old visitor from Spain, said with a bright smile when met at Gyeongbokgung Palace in Seoul on the afternoon of the 5th, a day when a severe heatwave warning was issued.

Amid the unrelenting heatwave, the Palaceis and Tombs Headquarters of the National Heritage Administration suspended the Royal Guard Changing Ceremony, which usually takes place daily at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., starting today.

Even the murderous heat, severe enough to halt events, could not dampen the determination of tourists seeking a unique experience in Korea.

On this day, the footsteps of foreign tourists wearing layered long jeogori (traditional jackets), skirts, and trousers continued without a break at Gyeongbokgung Palace.

While tourists made thorough preparations by bringing parasols and portable fans, they could not hide their astonishment at Korea's extreme heat.

Reyna, a 21-year-old traveler from the Netherlands who came because she likes K-pop, said, "It's my first time in Korea, and I think I picked the wrong time.

She stuck out her tongue in disbelief, adding, "I keep drinking water. It rains every day in the Netherlands, so it's never been this hot."

Even so, Reyna visited Gyeongbokgung Palace dressed in a Hanbok.

"It's very hot, but wearing a Hanbok is a must," she said. "Since it's the last day of my trip to Korea, I really wanted to have a traditional experience."

Chengyi, a 21-year-old tourist from China, also showed off the Hanbok she matched with her friends, saying, "It really is hot, but since you only wear it once, I'm enduring it."

Gonzalo, 23, who also visited Gyeongbokgung Palace in a Hanbok, said, "I checked the weather forecast before coming on the trip and was quite worried. I live in northern Spain, but Korea is much hotter and harder to deal with."

To assist foreign tourists visiting Korea amid the heatwave, the Seoul Tourism Organization has designated and operated eight major tourist information centers and booths across Seoul as heatwave shelters starting on July 20.

Despite the heatwave, arrivals and departures of domestic and foreign travelers have increased, leading Incheon International Airport to record its highest-ever daily passenger volume on the 3rd.

(Photo: Yonhap News)