A record-breaking heat wave in Seoul has pushed maximum daytime temperatures to 39.2 °C [1].
The extreme heat has triggered a critical heat-wave warning across the South Korean capital. This surge in temperature threatens public health and highlights the intensifying urban heat island effect in densely populated city centers.
YTN reporter Song Su-hyun documented the conditions using thermal-imaging footage, which showed downtown Seoul glowing red. The footage captured high-heat zones in areas including Gwanghwamun, Namdaemun Market, and Namsan [1].
During the report, Song measured his own head temperature after walking through the city. The reading exceeded 46 °C [1], with some reports describing the temperature as approaching 50 °C [2].
An anchor for YTN said the downtown area appeared dyed red when viewed through the thermal camera as the record heat hit the entire city.
Song said the maximum daytime temperature in Seoul reached 39.2 °C [1] under the severe heat warning. The thermal data illustrates how surfaces and human bodies absorb and retain heat during unprecedented summer spikes, a phenomenon that can lead to heatstroke and other medical emergencies.
Local authorities have urged residents to avoid outdoor activities during peak hours. The use of infrared technology in this report provides a visual representation of the invisible thermal stress affecting the population in the metropolitan area.
“Seoul's maximum daytime temperature reached 39.2 °C.”
The disparity between ambient air temperature and surface temperature—exemplified by the reporter's 46 °C head reading—demonstrates the danger of radiant heat in urban environments. When city infrastructure absorbs solar radiation, it creates a microclimate that can push human body temperatures toward critical limits far faster than air temperature alone suggests.
