[News Terms] 'Heat Shock'... Reason for Korean Deaths at Japanese Onsen

Be Careful of Blood Pressure When Moving from Cold to Warm Spaces
Increase Body Temperature with Stretching Before Bathing

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Seung-gon] A man in his 70s, Lee Mo, who went on a package tour to Hokkaido, Japan during the recent Lunar New Year holiday, died while taking a hot spring bath.

According to Hankyoreh on the 6th, there have been three South Korean nationals who died during trips to Japan from October last year to the 5th of this month: one in Beppu, Kyushu, and one each in Beppu and Sapporo, Hokkaido. These elderly individuals are reported to have died from 'Heat Shock' symptoms, where blood pressure rapidly drops when moving from a cold space to a warm space (or rapidly rises in the opposite case), leading to stroke or myocardial infarction.

Beppu, a hot spring town in Oita Prefecture, Japan, known for the "Sea Hell Pilgrimage" tourist attraction. Photo by Yonhap News

Heat shock incidents in Japan mainly occur during the cold months from November to February. It is known that approximately 17,000 emergency calls related to heat shock symptoms are received annually. This includes deaths occurring in home bathtubs.

Koreans also need to be cautious of heat shock incidents. According to statistics from the Japan National Tourism Organization, from October to December last year, when Japan allowed visa-free travel, 894,459 Koreans visited Japan, accounting for about 32% of the total 2,803,146 entrants. This is the highest number among all countries.

To prevent heat shock, it is recommended to raise body temperature with light stretching before bathing and to avoid bathing immediately after meals or alcohol consumption. Additionally, sufficient hydration before bathing is necessary, and elderly people or those with vascular diseases should bathe with a guardian to prepare for any emergencies.