Overview

• Seoul's daily low of 23°C on May 21 marked the highest minimum temperature for May since records began in 1907.
• Incheon and southeastern regions, including Pohang and Uljin, also reported their hottest May mornings on record, with lows exceeding 20°C.
• Seoul reached a daytime high of 30.8°C, the first time this year the city exceeded 30°C, and 6.2°C above the historical May average.
• Meteorologists attribute the heatwave to warm, humid southerly winds driven by a high-pressure system near Japan, keeping temperatures elevated overnight.
• The Korea Meteorological Administration warns of continued above-average heat, with rain expected Thursday to bring temporary relief.