Climate, Energy and Environment Minister Kim Sung-whan visited the Korea Power Exchange headquarters in Naju, about 270 kilometers south of Seoul, to review electricity supply conditions for August and inspect the operational status of power plants, transmission lines and substations.
Officials also examined emergency response plans and the availability of reserve generating capacity to ensure a stable power supply in the event of an unexpected surge in electricity demand or simultaneous outages at multiple power plants.
The Korea Meteorological Administration forecast afternoon highs of between 31 C and 39 C nationwide, with Seoul expected to reach 39 C, Incheon and Gwangju 38 C, and Daejeon and Daegu 37 C. Temperatures in Seoul and Incheon had already exceeded 30 C by 8 a.m. after another sweltering night prevented heat accumulated during the day from dissipating.
The prolonged heat has also taken a growing toll on public health. The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency said 2,441 heat-related illness cases were reported between May 15 and Aug. 4, including 21 presumed deaths. Of the deaths, 13, or 62 percent, involved people aged 80 or older.
Peak electricity demand reached 95.044 gigawatts on Thursday, up about 2 percent from the previous day, according to the Korea Power Exchange. The supply reserve margin stood at 10.4 percent, slightly above the 10 percent level generally considered necessary for a stable power supply.
Electricity demand could climb further next week as factories resume normal operations following the summer holiday period while households and businesses continue to rely heavily on air conditioning.
The ministry said demand could surpass the current national record of 97.1 GW, set on Aug. 20, 2024, if the heat wave and tropical nights persist. The government had earlier prepared for maximum demand of up to 98.8 GW this summer and secured total supply capacity of about 107 GW.Jeju Island has already set a regional record. Its electricity demand reached an all-time high of 1.1863 GW at 7 p.m. on Tuesday as residents and tourists increased their use of cooling equipment.
Kim called on power companies to closely analyze changing weather conditions and electricity consumption rather than relying solely on previous summer patterns. He also urged operators to protect workers at power facilities by adjusting outdoor working hours and ensuring adequate rest during the heat wave.
South Korea has experienced increasingly frequent and prolonged periods of extreme heat. The weather agency said the country averaged 18.3 heat-wave days annually during the decade from 2016 to 2025, more than double the 8.3-day average recorded from 1973 to 1982.
The average number of tropical nights tripled over the same comparison period, rising from 4.1 to 12.2 days.
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