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KMA Issues Highest-Level Heat Warning for Seoul and Parts of Gyeonggi

The Korea Meteorological Administration issued its top-tier heat alert as forecasts point to daytime highs above 39 C and perceived temperatures over 38 C.

Lim Dae-ho · published Tue 4 Aug 2026, 12:36 KST · version 2

A silhouetted man points at large screens displaying red-highlighted heat and temperature maps of the Korean peninsula inside a weather agency office. — An official at the Korea Meteorological Administration looks at the weather forecast map at the KMA in Seoul on Monday. (Lee Sang-sub/The Korea Herald)

What this means for travelers

Travelers in Seoul south of the Han River, including Gangnam-gu, and in Osan, Hanam and western Yeoju in Gyeonggi Province should expect daytime highs above 39 C and perceived temperatures over 38 C under the highest-level heat warning. Recommended actions include avoiding nonessential outdoor activity, seeking air-conditioned or cooling shelters, staying hydrated, resting sufficiently, and regularly checking updated weather information.

The Alert

The Korea Meteorological Administration issued the highest level in its heat alert system at 4 p.m. Tuesday.
The warning system was introduced this year.

Affected Areas

All Seoul districts south of the Han River, including Gangnam-gu
Osan, Hanam and western Yeoju in Gyeonggi Province

Forecast

Perceived temperatures are forecast to exceed 38 degrees Celsius.
Daytime highs are forecast to surpass 39 C.
The national high temperature reached 42.5 C in Yangsan.

Recommended Actions

Suspending nonessential outdoor work
Moving to air-conditioned indoor spaces or cooling shelters
Stepped-up safety checks on vulnerable households
Staying hydrated and getting sufficient rest
Regularly checking the latest weather information

Corrections and updates

Tue 4 Aug 2026, 12:25 KST — Rewritten before publication to remove claims and dates not established by the cited facts.

Sources

The Korea Herald — Highest-level heat wave warning issued for Greater Seoul area (reporting by The Korea Herald, collected Tue 4 Aug 2026 (KST))

One source. Everything above rests on The Korea Herald alone. We have not found a second, independent account of it, so treat the detail as that organisation states it and check the original before you rely on it.

15 structured facts in this article were checked against the sources above. See our fact-check policy.