Korea Recovers from Hottest Summer in History

This summer was officially the hottest on record, beating the previous record from 1994.

According to the Korea Meteorological Administration on Sunday, the country suffered sweltering heat for 31.5 days until the end of August, up from 31.1 days in 1994 and the most since statistics began in 1973.

This year's average number of tropical nights nationwide is tied with 1994 at 17.7, and more could lie ahead. 

Several temperature records were also broken left, right and center, with 41 degrees Celsius in Hongcheon, Gangwon Province on Aug. 1, breaking the record of 40 degrees in Daegu on Aug. 1, 1942. Local heat records were set at 57 of 95 weather observation stations across the country.

For the first time in 111 years, the temperature stayed above 30 degrees all night in Seoul on Aug. 3-4 with 30.3 degrees.

The number of patients who came down with heat-related illnesses stood at a whopping 4,368 between May 20 and Aug. 18, and 45 of them have died, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The Ministry of the Interior and Safety said families of those who died of heatstroke after July are eligible for compensation under a revision to the disaster bill that passed the National Assembly last Thursday.

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