What and where to eat during the heat wave in Seoul this week

by Frances Cha

Korea isn’t coping well with this heat wave.

Hundreds have been rushed to the hospital and the death toll has reached 10 as the country entered the 10th consecutive tropical day, with daily highs hitting 35 C five days in a row.

Power blackouts have been occurring all around the country, leading Korea Electric Power Company to issue a power shortage warning this morning.

While the heat wave is expected to continue into the middle of the week, today is the official hottest day of the year (malbok) according to the lunar calendar.

The seeming contrariness of the traditional Korean custom of “yi-yeol-chi-yeol” (fighting fire with fire) dictates that no baths should be taken on the hottest days in order to preserve energy, while certain foods should be eaten to replenish the body’s energy levels and health.