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Busan Metropolitan City to Operate “Heat-Related Illness Emergency Room Surveillance System”

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Busan Metropolitan City, under Acting Mayor Kim Kyung-duk, announced that it will operate the “Heat-Related Illness Emergency Room Surveillance System” from today (May 15) through September 30 in order to monitor the occurrence of heat-related illnesses caused by summer heat waves and to enable rapid information sharing.

The “Heat-Related Illness Emergency Room Surveillance System” registers and monitors patients diagnosed with heat-related illnesses among those visiting participating hospital emergency rooms through the integrated disease and health management system. Through this system, the city monitors the status of heat-related illnesses and rapidly shares information in order to raise public awareness and encourage preventive action.

Heat-related illnesses are acute conditions caused by exposure to heat. Prolonged exposure to hot environments may cause symptoms such as headaches, dizziness, muscle cramps, fatigue, and decreased consciousness. If left untreated, these conditions may become life-threatening, making it important to familiarize oneself with preventive guidelines in advance.

This year (2026), a total of 35 medical institutions with emergency rooms are participating in the Heat-Related Illness Emergency Room Surveillance System. These institutions will submit daily reports through the system by 10:00 a.m. the following day on the status of patients with heat-related illnesses who visited emergency rooms by midnight of the reporting day.

In addition, to ensure the smooth operation of the surveillance system, a one-week pilot operation was conducted in advance from May 8 to May 14.

Daily statistical information collected during the operation period of the emergency room surveillance system will be provided through the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency website (www.kdca.go.kr) at 4:00 p.m. on the following day.

Meanwhile, according to the results of the nationwide heat-related illness surveillance system in 2025, a total of 4,460 heat-related illness cases, including 29 deaths, were reported nationwide. Compared to 2024, when 3,704 cases and 34 deaths were reported, the number of patients increased by 20.4 percent while the number of deaths decreased by 14.7 percent.

In Busan, 171 heat-related illness cases, including one death, occurred in 2025, representing a 32.5 percent increase compared to 129 cases and one death recorded in 2024.

Cho Gyu-yul, Director General of the Citizens’ Health Bureau, stated, “As average temperatures this summer are expected to be higher than normal, Busan Metropolitan City will operate the Heat-Related Illness Emergency Room Surveillance System to monitor the occurrence status on a daily basis and rapidly share related information.” He added, “We ask citizens to frequently check heat wave advisories issued by the Korea Meteorological Administration, and vulnerable groups such as children, older adults, individuals with chronic illnesses, and outdoor workers should pay special attention to their health management.”