South Korea just broke its own heat record, and by 'broke' we mean 'smashed into a million sweaty pieces.' The Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) reported that the south-eastern city of Yangsan hit a blistering 42.5C on Sunday afternoon - the highest temperature since modern weather observation began in 1904. Yes, 1904. That's 120 years of records, and this one just melted them.

Yangsan has been the epicenter of a relentless heatwave, with temperatures exceeding 40C for a fifth consecutive day on Sunday. Other cities like Daegu and Busan are also suffering, with temperatures climbing into the high 30s - because apparently, the whole country decided to become a pizza oven.

Residents have been fleeing to air-conditioned shopping malls and cafes to escape the inferno. Ju Dong-yeol, a 27-year-old office worker, took refuge in a Seoul Starbucks with his parents and told AFP, 'It is too hot to be outside doing anything.' He added, 'I can't think of anything else to do other than stay in airconditioned places like home, shopping malls and cafes.' We're not sure if that's a lifestyle choice or a survival strategy - probably both.

On Sunday, more than 20 localities were under emergency heatwave alerts - a new warning category introduced this year to better address rising temperatures. An emergency alert is issued when areas experiencing a heatwave are forecast to hit perceived temperatures of 38C or actual temperatures of 39C for the day. The weather agency urged people to 'immediately stop all outdoor activities,' adding that 'indoor spaces without air conditioning are dangerous.' They advised moving to a cool place, such as a designated cooling centre or a shaded area, and staying hydrated - because, apparently, we needed to be told to drink water when it's 42C outside.

KMA data show the average annual number of heatwave days - days with a maximum temperature of at least 33C - has more than doubled to 19 in the past five years. That's not a typo. It's a trend.

Even South Korea's professional baseball league had to throw in the towel, canceling a game in Changwon after the city's temperature hit 39.5C. That's the second consecutive game cancellation in the city, and the Korea Baseball Organization cited 'the safety and health of spectators and players as the top priority.' You know it's bad when baseball - a sport where players stand around for hours - gets called off.

Scientists warn that extreme weather events like heatwaves are becoming more frequent and intense due to human-induced climate change. And adding to the misery is the return of El Niño, a natural climate phenomenon that warms Pacific Ocean surface temperatures and typically occurs every two to seven years. So, in short: it's hot, it's getting hotter, and we've only ourselves (and a little bit of El Niño) to blame.