[Photo News] Greeting summer

The summer solstice fell on Thursday, marking the start of haji, one of 24 divisions of the year on the lunar calendar.

The sun reaches its highest altitude in the Northern Hemisphere on this day, resulting in the longest period of daylight of the year.

High temperatures were felt around the country Thursday, topping 30 degrees Celsius in some inland regions including Daegu, Andong in North Gyeongsang Province and Chuncheon in Gangwon Province. 

A heat haze over the streets of Yeouido in Seoul

A heat haze over the streets of Yeouido in Seoul

A man rests beneath a tree at a park in Yeouido, Seoul.

Visitors beat the heat at Lotte Water Park in Gimhae, South Gyeongsang Province, Thursday.

Visitors beat the heat at Lotte Water Park in Gimhae, South Gyeongsang Province, Thursday.

Animals cope with the hot weather at the Everland zoo in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province.

Animals cope with the hot weather at the Everland zoo in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province.

Animals cope with the hot weather at the Everland zoo in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province.

Animals cope with the hot weather at the Everland zoo in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province.

Photos by Yonhap
Written by Cho Yun-myung (yunc39@heraldcorp.com)