Jung Min-ho has worked as a staff writer at The Korea Times since 2012, mostly covering social and political issues. He currently belongs to the Politics & City Desk where he covers topics such as health, labor and human rights. Prior to joining the team, he was responsible for covering North Korea and sports. His article about a biosecurity breach of Middle East respiratory syndrome won him an award from the Korea Science Journalists Association in 2016. He is also the co-author of the book, "Medical Pioneers of Korea" (2019). He served as the head of the international relations committee at the Journalists Association of Korea from 2021 to 2023.
Heat-related illnesses surge this year: national fire agency
People rest under the shade of a bridge in Seoul, Monday. The scorching heat wave has led to a spike in heat-related illnesses in Korea this year, with temperatures expected to rise further in the coming weeks. Newsis
By Jung Min-ho
The scorching heat wave has led to a spike in heat-related illnesses in Korea this year with temperatures expected to rise further in the coming weeks.
According to the National Fire Agency on Tuesday, the number of patients treated for heat-related conditions for a month from May 20 nationwide was 268, compared with 116 during the same period last year.
Of them, heat exhaustion (140) accounted for more than half, followed by heatstroke (58), a failure of the body’s heat-regulation mechanisms, and heat syncope (33), a state of collapse or dizziness as a result of overheating.
While 240 people were transported to hospitals, 28 others received emergency treatment from rescue workers. So far this year, no deaths have been reported.
More than 55 percent of the calls were made by people aged 60 or older, the fire agency said.
As temperatures were forecast to rise above 35 degrees Celsius in Seoul on June 19, a heat wave advisory was issued for residents for the first time this year.
Given that the average temperature of August and July are typically higher than that of June in the country, the agency worries that a relatively higher number of such emergency calls is a predictor of a surge in the number of additional cases over the next two months.
The agency urged the public to avoid outside activities during the day and wear lightweight, light-colored clothing as light colors reflect heat and sunlight. It said people of greater vulnerability, such as the older adults, children, pregnant women and those with underlying medical conditions should take extra precautions to avoid excessive heat exposure.