With record-breaking heat waves continuing day after day, the royal guard changing ceremony held at Gyeongbok Palace in Seoul has been temporarily suspended.
The Korea Heritage Service Royal Palaces and Tombs Center said on the 5th on its website that, in line with the Ministry of the Interior and Safety's guidelines for the severe heat wave alert, it is suspending all schedules for the royal guard changing ceremony program.
Accordingly, the royal guard changing ceremony, which had been held at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. daily in front of Heungnyemun at Gyeongbok Palace, and the guard duty ceremony held at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. are all suspended.
The Royal Palaces and Tombs Center and the Korea Heritage Agency (KHA) plan to temporarily suspend related events until the severe heat wave alert, the highest-level heat advisory, is lifted.
The Royal Palaces and Tombs Center said all schedules for the royal guard changing ceremony program were suspended to prevent heat-related illnesses and ensure the safety of performers and visitors, and noted it plans to resume when the severe heat wave alert is lifted.
A severe heat wave alert is the highest-level heat advisory issued in areas where the daily maximum heat index of 95 F or above has persisted for two days or more when a maximum heat index of 100 F or above, or a maximum temperature of 102 F or above, is expected for at least one day.
The Korea Meteorological Administration additionally issued a severe heat wave alert on the morning of the 5th for Gwangmyeong, Yeoncheon, Pocheon, Gapyeong, Namyangju, Uiwang, Hwaseong, eastern Yangpyeong, and western Yangpyeong in Gyeonggi; southern Incheon; and Cheongyang in South Chungcheong. Including all of Seoul, 20 of the 46 land weather advisory zones in the greater Seoul area are under a severe heat wave alert.