Heat wave drives people to higher, cooler places

A parking lot in Daegwallyeong in Gangwon’s Pyeongchang County on Friday is filled with visitors trying to beat the heat. [PARK JIN-HO]

Daegwallyeong is the cool place to go in the current heat wave.

Last Friday at 8 p.m., a parking lot in Daegwallyeong-myeon in Gangwon’s Pyeongchang county, located at the altitude of 830 meters, was filled with about 100 cars. It isn’t a registered campsite, but visitors spread mats and pulled out foldable tables to eat, chat and beat the heat.

Seventy-year-old Choi Don-seon, from the seaside city of Gangneung, which is only 30 minutes away by car, said the temperature in the Daegwallyeong area is usually 10 degrees Celsius lower than surrounding areas.

“In my home in Gangneung, I have to turn the air-conditioning on, but here, it’s too cold to fall asleep if you don’t wear long sleeve clothing and cover yourself with a blanket,” said Choi. “Because the area is at a high altitude, it seems like there are no mosquitos around.”

At 8 p.m. last Friday, it was 28.4 degrees Celsius in Seoul and 27.5 degrees in Gangeung. In Daegwallyeong, it was 21.8 degrees. As the temperature dropped further, people donned thicker jackets.

“I debated going to Gangneung originally, but after staying here overnight in my car, I changed my plan to go to nearby Mount Odae,” said Mr. Kim, a 52-year-old from Gyeonggi. Kim said the temperature at his home was 34 degrees, while Daegwallyeong was 20 degrees.

Daegwallyeong's average temperature in July has been 19.6 degrees. It has not stayed over 25 degrees Celsius from 6 p.m. to 9 a.m., which is Korea's definition of a "tropical night."

It's impossible to book a room at resorts or hotels in the area.

“Since Daegwallyeong is the coolest area across the country, most rooms are completely booked during the hot and humid season,” said a spokesperson for one resort.

Taebaek city, another area in Gangwon, is also known for cooler temperatures, especially around the city’s Hwangji Pond.

The Korea Meteorological Administration has issued heat wave advisories, when temperatures are expected to exceed 33 degrees for two days in a row, or warnings for temperatures over 35 degrees.

It has also warned of possible power shortages due to high demand for air conditioning use.

BY PARK JIN-HO [summerlee@joongang.co.kr]