In an unprecedented sign of climate disruption, South Korean authorities issued 681 extreme heat warnings across the country during and immediately after the autumn Chuseok holiday on September 18-19.
The heat was so unusual for autumn that some joked the harvest festival should be renamed from "Chuseok" (Autumn Evening) to "Haseok" (Summer Evening).
The impact of this unseasonable heat wave has now reached McDonald's restaurants across the country. On October 15, McDonald's Korea began removing tomatoes from several menu items, including its Tomato Cheese Beef Burger, citing supply difficulties due to the extreme weather. As of October 27, tomato supply at McDonald's locations had yet to return to normal.
The summer heat wave devastated Napa cabbage crops in Gangwon Province's highlands. The harvest decreased significantly, with poor head formation affecting product quality. Average retail prices approached 10,000 won per head, earning the vegetable the nickname "golden cabbage."
Read more at The Korea Bizwire