"Wearing Short Sleeves to the Beach in December"... Jeju Daytime Temperature Soars Above 20 Degrees

Seogwipo and Gosan Record 'Highest December Temperatures Ever'

On the 10th, the daytime high temperatures across Jeju exceeded 20 degrees Celsius, showing unmistakably spring-like weather despite it being December.

According to the Jeju Regional Meteorological Administration on the 10th, the highest temperatures recorded at the four main observation points in Jeju were ▲23.1°C in Jeju City ▲22.4°C in Seogwipo City ▲22.0°C in Gosan ▲21.9°C in Seongsan, with all areas recording temperatures above 20 degrees.

The temperature in Jeju City on this day was the second highest ever recorded in December in over 100 years of meteorological observation history, following the highest December temperature of 23.3°C recorded on December 17, 1936.

On the 10th, with warm weather exceeding 20 degrees continuing, many people are walking barefoot on the sandy beach at Iho Beach in Jeju.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

Seogwipo recorded the highest December temperature since meteorological observations began. Previous high December temperatures in Seogwipo include ▲21.9°C on December 29, 1987 ▲21.8°C on December 3, 2018 ▲21.7°C on December 8, 1988 ▲21.6°C on December 4, 1989.

Gosan also set a new record, surpassing the previous highest December temperature of 21.9°C recorded on December 2, 2018, marking the highest ever. Seongsan’s temperature on the 10th was the second highest ever recorded in December, with the December 3, 2018 temperature being 22.1°C, 0.2 degrees higher than on the 10th.

With such warm weather across Jeju, many people flocked to the beaches on the island for walks and outings, some dressed lightly in short sleeves and even walking barefoot along the shore.

A meteorological official explained, "The movement speed of the high-pressure system moving from northern China to the northeast has slowed, allowing warm southeast winds to continuously flow in, and combined with solar radiation during the day, daytime temperatures rose significantly." The Meteorological Administration forecasted that due to the influence of a low-pressure system moving northeast near Shanghai, China, rain would fall in Jeju, causing daytime temperatures on the 11th to drop compared to the 10th.

Expected rainfall amounts are 30 to 80 mm across Jeju Island until the 12th, with mountainous areas expected to receive over 150 mm of heavy rain. Especially on the 11th, strong rain accompanied by gusty winds, thunder, and lightning is expected at a rate of 20 to 40 mm per hour, mainly in mountainous areas, so caution is advised against flood damage.

The forecasted temperatures for Jeju on the 11th are a morning low of 4 to 7 degrees Celsius and a daytime high of 11 to 13 degrees Celsius, dropping back to average levels.