At least 11 deaths linked to scorching heatwave in South Korea

Amid an intense heatwave in South Korea that shows no signs of abating, a government estimate suggested on July 27 that the number of suspected heat-related deaths has almost tripled, compared with that in 2024.

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SEOUL —

From May 20 until July 25, the government's daily estimate showed that 11 deaths were suspected to be heat-related. The figure is nearly three times higher than the four recorded in the same period in 2024.

In the latest incident, a pedestrian in his 50s died at around 3 p.m. on July 25 after he collapsed in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province.

By region, Gyeonggi Province saw three deaths, while South Chungcheong Province and North Gyeongsang Province reported two deaths each. A total of four deaths were reported in Seoul, Busan, North Jeolla Province, and South Gyeongsang Province, according to the estimate by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency.

The government also estimated that nearly 2,200 people experienced heatwave-related illnesses in the same period, up more than twofold year on year. Eighty-seven of the cases were reported on July 25 alone.