Cold-Related Deaths Up 75% Last Winter... Slight Increase in Cases

Number of Deaths Increased from 8 to 14 Compared to Last Year
All Estimated Causes of Death Were Hypothermia; Most Cases Occurred Among the Elderly

The number of deaths from cold-related illnesses last winter increased compared to the previous year.

On a morning in January, commuters are walking through Sejong-daero Intersection at Gwanghwamun Square in Jongno-gu, Seoul. Photo by Yonhap News

According to the results of the operation of the '2025~2026 Seasonal Cold-Related Illness Emergency Room Surveillance System' announced by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency on March 10, a total of 364 cold-related illness cases were reported to the surveillance system during this winter season (December 2025 to February 2026), representing a 9% increase from the previous year. The number of deaths rose by 75%, from 8 to 14 during the same period.

The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency operates the 'Cold-Related Illness Emergency Room Surveillance System' every winter to raise awareness and encourage preventive measures against cold-related illnesses during cold waves.

The main symptom among cold-related illness patients was hypothermia, accounting for 79.7%. All 14 estimated causes of death were attributed to hypothermia. Of the total 14 estimated deaths, 5 individuals (35.7%) had cognitive impairments such as dementia. By gender, men (64.6%) were affected more than women (35.4%).

By age group, those aged 65 and older accounted for the highest proportion at 57.4%, with most of the estimated deaths also occurring among people aged 65 and older. In particular, the risk of developing cold-related illnesses and the risk of estimated death was found to be highest among those aged 80 and above.

'2025~2026 Seasonal Cold-Related Illness Emergency Room Surveillance System' Distribution of Cold-Related Illness Cases. Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency

Cold-related illnesses occurred most frequently in the morning hours. Most cases happened outdoors, such as on the roadside or near residential areas. By region, Gyeonggi Province had the highest number of cold-related illness cases, while Gangwon Province had the highest incidence per 100,000 people.

Lim Seungkwan, Commissioner of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, stated, "Since cold-related deaths occur most frequently among the elderly with cognitive impairments, it is important for caregivers to pay close attention and make efforts to ensure that seniors are not exposed to cold waves."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.