Korea Grips with Extreme Heat as Palace Guards Programs Suspended and Citizens Seek Relief
Key Takeaways
- •All royal palace guard programs at Gyeongbok Palace in Seoul, including standing guard duty, have been suspended due to the extreme heat.
- •Tourists and residents across South Korea are using parasols, portable fans, frozen water bottles, hats, and sunglasses to cope with soaring temperatures.
- •A Siberian tiger at Everland amusement park in Yongin was observed playing in water to cool off amid the scorching weather.
- •The Korea Meteorological Administration issues heat advisories and warnings that trigger guidance for vulnerable populations and outdoor workers when temperature and humidity thresholds are exceeded.
- •Gyeongbok Palace, originally built in 1395 during the Joseon Dynasty, is a major tourist destination where visitors frequently wear hanbok while exploring the grounds.
Published Aug 6, 2026, 5:24 pm KST.
South Korea is grappling with an ongoing heat wave, with residents and visitors alike deploying creative strategies to cope with soaring temperatures across the country.
At Gyeongbok Palace in Seoul, foreign tourists dressed in fusion hanbok — modernized versions of Korea's traditional attire — were seen using parasols and electric fans to shield themselves from the sun as they strolled the palace grounds on Thursday. All programs related to the royal palace guards, including standing guard duty, have been suspended due to the extreme heat. The guard ceremonies are a regularly scheduled cultural attraction at the palace, and their suspension underscores how the heat wave is disrupting not only daily routines but also organized public events and tourism programs.
At Seoul Central Market, a vendor pressed a frozen water bottle against her cheek while relying on a large fan to keep cool. Elsewhere in the capital, a child was spotted using a portable fan, and residents wore hats, face masks, and sunglasses for protection against the relentless sun.
Animals are also feeling the effects of the scorching weather. At Everland amusement park in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province, a Siberian tiger was observed playing in the water to cool off.
South Korea routinely faces hot, humid summers, and the Korea Meteorological Administration issues heat advisories and warnings when temperatures and humidity reach thresholds that elevate the risk of heat-related illness. Such advisories trigger guidance for vulnerable populations and outdoor workers.
Korea Times photographs by Shim Hyun-chul documented tourists at Gyeongbok Palace. Additional coverage was provided by Yonhap.
Gyeongbok Palace, also known as Gyeongbokgung, is one of Seoul's most prominent historical landmarks. Originally built in 1395 during the Joseon Dynasty, it is a major tourist destination where visitors frequently rent or wear hanbok to explore the grounds.
