The number of heat-related illness cases recorded in South Korea during late summer has nearly tripled over the past 10 years, according to government data released on Saturday, 8 August 2025. The sharp rise, drawn from Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) records, signals a deepening public health burden as climate patterns push temperatures higher and longer into the season.

A Decade of Rising Numbers

An analysis by a research institute under South Korea's interior ministry found that an annual average of 215 heat-related patients were reported from ipchu — the traditional calendar marker for the start of autumn, which fell on 7 August this year — through to the end of August during the 2011–2015 period. That figure surged to an annual average of 658 cases in 2016–2020 and remained elevated at 638 cases annually in 2021–2025, reflecting a structural, not seasonal, shift.

In 2024 alone, 1,299 people suffered from heat-related illnesses — the highest single-year figure in recent records — with 12 deaths recorded through late August.

Deaths Also on the Rise

Fatalities linked to heat illness have followed a similar upward curve. The annual average of heat-related deaths rose from 3.3 in the 2012–2015 period to more than four per year over the decade spanning 2016 to 2025. While the absolute numbers may appear modest, public health experts note that heat-related deaths are widely considered underreported, as they often manifest as complications in patients with pre-existing conditions.

Current Heatwave Conditions

The data comes as South Korea braces for continued extreme heat through late August. The Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) forecast daytime highs of up to 37 degrees Celsius across most of the country on Saturday, with the Seoul metropolitan area expected to reach 35°C and the central city of Daejeon hitting 36°C. Daytime highs are broadly forecast in the 31–37°C range nationwide.

Heavy rainfall of up to 100 millimetres is expected for parts of the east coast and mountainous regions of Gangwon Province, while the greater capital area and central regions may receive up to 40 mm of scattered showers from the afternoon, according to the KMA. Temperatures are expected to ease briefly in rain-affected areas, but heat and humidity are forecast to return once the showers pass.

Authorities Scale Back Driving Tests

The heat has already prompted institutional responses. The Korea Road Traffic Authority announced it will temporarily scale back or suspend driving tests amid the prolonged heatwave, citing concerns over heat-related illness risks for both test takers and staff. The move reflects a broader pattern of public agencies adapting operations as extreme heat shifts from an exceptional event to a recurring summer reality.

With the heatwave expected to persist through late August, health authorities are likely to face continued pressure on emergency and outpatient services — a challenge that the tenfold-plus jump in late-summer cases over a decade makes increasingly difficult to absorb.