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2025 Vol.12, Issue 3 Preview Page

Original Article

Evaluation of Heat Stress Indices for Koreans: A Comparative Study of Perceived Temperature and KMA WBGT in Quantifying Heatwave Impacts

한국인 인지온도 및 체감온도기반 폭염 영향 정량화 성능 비교·분석

Ju-Young Shin1
,
Kyu Rang Kim2
,
Myoung-Jin Um3*
,
Yeonji Chung4
,
Seoyoung Kim5
신 주영1
,
김 규랑2
,
엄 명진3*
,
정 연지4
,
김 서영5
1Assistant Professor, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Kookmin University, Seoul 02707, Korea
2Senior Scientist, Research Applications Department, National Institute of Meteorological Sciences, Seoqwipo 63568, Korea
3Associate Professor, Department of Civil & Energy System Engineering, Kyonggi University, Suwon 16227, Korea
4PhD Student, Department of Civil & Energy System Engineering, Kyonggi University, Suwon 16227, Korea
5Msc Student, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Kookmin University, Seoul 02707, Korea
1국민대학교 건설시스템공학과 교수
2국립기상과학원 응용기상연구팀 팀장
3경기대학교 사회에너지공학과 교수
4경기대학교 토목공학과 박사과정
5국민대학교 건설시스템공학과 석사과정
*Corresponding Author
30 September 2025. pp. 159-170
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Abstract

This study aimed to address the limitations of traditional temperature indicators based solely on daily maximum air temperature, which fail to fully capture the actual thermal environment experienced by the Korean people. It evaluated the consistency and validity of the Korean Perceived Temperature (PT) and the Korea Meteorological Administration’s Wet-Bulb Globe Temperature-based index (WBGTk). A total of six outdoor surveys and microclimate observations were conducted in Seoul and Suwon to analyze the correlations between citizens’ thermal sensation and thermal comfort levels and the respective indices. PT showed the highest coefficient of determination (R2=0.991) with thermal sensation, while the WBGTk index showed the strongest coefficient of determination with thermal comfort (R2=0.986). These findings indicate that PT and WBGTk are the most suitable indicators for representing citizens’ perceived heat and comfort and provide a scientific basis for their effective application in future heatwave response policies and public health protection systems.

Keywords
Heatwave
Impact-based forecast
Natural Disaster
Perceived temperature
WBGT-KMA

이 연구는 기존 일 최고기온 중심의 폭염지표가 인체의 실제 열환경을 충분히 반영하지 못하는 한계를 보완하고자, 한국형 인지온도와 기상청 폭염체감온도의 정합성과 유효성을 검증하였다. 서울과 수원 지역에서 총 6회의 실외 설문조사와 미기상 관측을 병행하여, 시민의 주관한서감 및 온열쾌적감과 각 지표 간의 상관관계를 분석하였다. 그 결과, 인지온도는 주관한서감과의 결정계수(R2) 0.991로 가장 높았고, 폭염체감온도는 온열쾌적감과의 R2가 0.986로 가장 우수한 성능을 보였다. 이 결과는 인지온도와 폭염체감온도가 시민의 체감 더위와 쾌적감을 가장 잘 설명할 수 있는 지표임을 의미하며, 향후 폭염 대응 정책 및 건강 보호 체계에 효과적으로 활용될 수 있는 과학적 근거를 제공한다.

키워드
폭염
영향예보
자연재해
인지온도
폭염체감온도
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Information
  • Publisher :Korean Society of Ecology and Infrastructure Engineering
  • Publisher(Ko) :응용생태공학회
  • Journal Title :Ecology and Resilient Infrastructure
  • Journal Title(Ko) :응용생태공학회 논문집
  • Volume : 12
  • No :3
  • Pages :159-170
  • Received Date : 2025-08-19
  • Revised Date : 2025-08-25
  • Accepted Date : 2025-08-25
  • DOI :https://doi.org/10.17820/eri.2025.12.3.159
Journal Informaiton Ecology and Resilient Infrastructure Ecology and Resilient Infrastructure
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