The heat: It's not over until it's over

The Korea Times

The Korea Times

Opinion

Sun, December 10, 2023 | 08:42

Guest Column

The heat: It's not over until it's over

Posted : 2023-08-24 16:20

Updated : 2023-08-24 16:20

By Yoo Hee-dong

The hottest days of the year in Korea are known as "sambok." Sambok is the period from mid-July to mid-August when it becomes intensely hot after the rainy season ends. There is a saying in Korea, "Even rice grains stuck on the lips feel heavy during sambok," describing how the heat during this period is so intense that even a single grain of rice feels heavy. Throughout sambok, the average length of the day in Korea ranges from 13 to 15 hours, indicating that people live and work under the scorching sun for over 13 hours each day.

According to the Disaster Yearbook over the past decade (2011-2020), heat waves have caused a death toll equivalent to that of typhoons, and the associated damage is on the rise. In 2022, there were 1,564 recorded cases of people with heat-related illnesses, marking a 13.7 percent increase from the previous year. Unprecedented heat waves have also struck countries across the globe. The U.K., typically known for its mild summers, experienced its highest recorded temperature in 140 years since record-keeping began, exceeding 40 degrees Celsius in the summer of 2022. Many parts of Europe also witnessed exceptionally high temperatures, tragically leading to 61,672 deaths due to heat-related illnesses. World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the European Union (EU) warned in a collaborative study that such unusually hot weather is not an isolated event, but rather an ongoing climate crisis for Europe. The study also predicts more frequent and intensified heat waves in the future.

In the past, Koreans utilized a strategy of "fighting heat with heat" to deal with sweltering temperatures. This approach involved eating hot and high-protein foods to keep the body's energy and biorhythm balanced, because immune systems and biorhythm are easily disrupted and weakened by both the intense heat and cold food consumed during summer. However, the recent intensity of heat waves has escalated to the point where relying on the traditional wisdom of "fighting heat with heat" is no longer effective. Given this evolving scenario, how should we address the risks posed by heat waves?

To prevent the effects of heat waves, the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) introduced impact-based heat wave forecasts in 2019. These forecasts convey the potential consequences of heat waves and offer safety guidelines. The risks associated with heat waves are displayed on the map by four colors ― blue, yellow, orange and red, and for easier understanding of the forecasts, risk levels and safety tips are communicated through simple pictograms relevant to various sectors such as health, industry, agriculture and livestock.

In particular, on days with exceptionally high temperatures, the KMA implements a pilot project in which it sends text messages to people whose parents reside in the rural area of Changnyeong County in South Gyeongsang Province. These messages advise recipients to call their parents and encourage them to avoid outdoor activities that day. This service aims to assist senior citizens in safeguarding themselves from the dangers of heat waves.

Additionally, starting this year, the more than two million foreigners living in Korea have access to the impact-based heat wave forecasts available on the KMA's website. Recognizing the significant presence of migrant workers, particularly in the construction sector, the KMA has taken steps to provide weather information and heat wave safety measures tailored to those who work outdoors. These services, accessible through mobile phones, are available in English and Chinese languages, ensuring that migrant workers laboring outdoors can easily access the necessary information.

As heat waves intensify and become more frequent as a result of severe climate change, the present calls for a novel and modern approach to tackle heat waves, distinct from the conventional method of combating heat with heat. The KMA remains committed to its efforts in assisting everyone in Korea from outdoor workers in construction sites to mobile workers navigating scorching asphalt roads to heat-vulnerable elderly citizens in discovering their own new ways to cope with heat waves and ensure a safe summer through impact-based heat wave forecasts.

Yoo Hee-dong is administrator of the Korea Meteorological Administration.