PHOTOS: Record heat grips South Korea

A farmer wipes sweat in a field in Goryeong, North Gyeongsang Province, on July 8. Yonhap

SEOUL, July 10 (AJP) - A relentless, record-breaking heat wave is scorching South Korea.

Temperatures in Seoul climbed to an unprecedented 37.8 degrees Celsius on Tuesday, the highest ever recorded for early July.

The intense heat has sent a dramatic surge of patients to emergency rooms across the country. According to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, 238 individuals sought emergency medical attention for heat-related illnesses on Monday alone. This brings the total number of heat-illness patients this summer to 1,212, a striking 2.5-fold increase compared to the 486 cases reported during the same period last year.

A public water play area in Jung-gu, Daegu, on July 6/ Yonhap

Citizens at Daecheongcheon Stream in Gimhae, South Gyeongsang Province, on July 7/ Yonhap

A magpie cooling off in Jangsucheon Stream in Namdong-gu, Incheon, on July 8/ Yonhap

A brown bear eats frozen fruit in a waterhole at Dalseong Park in Daegu on July 9. Yonhap

People line up to enter a samgyetang restaurant in Jongno, Seoul, on July 9. Samgyetang is a popular Korean summer restorative dish. Yonhap

A rice paddy in Seogwipo, Jeju, shows cracks due to drought on July 8. Yonhap

Daetan Beach in Yeongdeok County, North Gyeongsang Province, on July 7/ Yonhap

9일 부산 수영구 워터파크에서 시민들이 물놀이하며 즐거운 시간을 보내고 있다 — A water park in Suyeong-gu, Busan, on July 9/ Yonhap

Cho Bo-hee jobo@ajupress.com