This summer, a record scorching heat wave blanketed the Korean Peninsula. The daytime high soared to an all-time high of 42.5 C, and last month the nights with tropical lows lasted the longest on record. Inside and outside the Korea Meteorological Administration, some are calling it "a summer that rewrote 122 years of weather observation history."
But local governments that set new record highs are not entirely pleased. They worry the image of being "the hottest city in the country" could harden and reduce summer tourists. The backlash is landing on the Korea Meteorological Administration. Every summer, some local governments file complaints saying, "Aren't the observed values wrong?" and "Please move the observation equipment."
According to the Korea Meteorological Administration on the 24th, the high in Yangsan, South Gyeongsang, reached 42.5 C on the 2nd. Starting with 40.3 C on the 29th of last month, it hit 40.3 C on the 30th, 41.4 C on the 31st, and 41.6 C on the 1st of this month, exceeding 40 C for five straight days. The national record high set on the 1st was broken again the very next day.
Until then, the representative high-temperature marks were 41.9 C in Jiwol-ri, Chowol-eup, Gwangju, Gyeonggi, on Aug. 1, 2018; 41.8 C in Gangbuk District, Seoul, on the same day; and 41.6 C in Geumsa-myeon, Yeoju, Gyeonggi, on Aug. 4, 2024.
This heat wave is analyzed as the result of the Tibetan high and the North Pacific high stacking over the Korean Peninsula, compounded by a foehn effect as westerlies crossed the Taebaek and Sobaek mountains, turning hotter and drier. Temperatures spiked especially in southern areas such as Yangsan, Gimhae and Changwon.
But the heat's backlash has, unexpectedly, landed on observation equipment. Some argue that the instruments sit in hotter spots than surrounding areas and therefore do not represent the region's overall temperature, and they are calling for stations to be relocated.
The Korea Meteorological Administration says it is in a bind. An official said, "If we relocate observation equipment whenever temperatures come out high, we might have to move stations every year," adding, "The continuity of observation data accumulated over decades would also be damaged."
These complaints are not unique to Yangsan. Regions famous for summer heat, like Daegu with the nickname "Daefrica," or Gangwon, known for winter cold, reportedly make similar requests each season. An official at a local office of the Korea Meteorological Administration said, "There are also complaints asking us to check whether the equipment worked properly, saying the temperatures were measured too high or too low."
Local governments are sensitive to temperatures because of tourism. If the image of being "the hottest or coldest place in the country" hardens, it could hurt efforts to attract visitors. Marking the 30th anniversary of its elevation to city status this year, Yangsan declared a "Visit Yangsan Year" and is making a concerted push to draw tourists.
But observation stations are not simply devices that take today's temperature. The Automated Synoptic Observing System (ASOS), which the Korea Meteorological Administration uses to measure temperatures, precipitation and more nationwide, is installed at about 100 locations across the country. Some areas have observation records dating back to the early 1900s. Long-term data from the same location are essential to properly compare past and present climates.