Anchor: South Korea is experiencing the hottest summer since 1994. With the number of heat-related deaths and illnesses rising to new highs, the government unveiled new plans to cope with the scorching heat. 
Our Bae Joo-yon has more. 
 
Report: The entire nation is struggling this summer due to record heat waves and high ozone levels.
 
The Korea Meteorological Administration(KMA) announced on Wednesday that the average temperature in Seoul during the first 15 days of this month stood at 29-point-seven degrees Celsius, or the highest since 1907.

The weather agency said it issued heat wave warnings 17 times for the capital Seoul already between June first and August 16th.

That's the most number of heat wave warnings in one summer since 1994, when advisories were issued for 29 days as afternoon highs reached over 33 degrees Celsius.

This year's figure is nowhere close to 43 days recorded in 1939 but South Koreans suffered eleven straight days of sweltering heat earlier this month. 

Amid the sizzling temperatures, a record number of heat-related deaths have been reported this year since relevant statistics began to be compiled.
 
According to data revealed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 16 people died due to heat-related illnesses between May 23rd and August 15th.
 
The Ministry of Public Safety and Security on Wednesday unveiled measures to protect people from the highest summer temperatures in over two decades. The government will designate more heat shelters while providing financial support for local governments to operate air conditioning units in more public facilities. 
 
The ministry said that the central and local governments will exert the best efforts to minimize damage caused by heat waves as the nation is projected to continuously see sizzling temperatures until next month.
Bae Joo-yon, KBS World Radio News.