Daeseo (大暑)

"Daeseo" (大暑), which literally means "great heat," is the twelfth of the twenty-four seasonal sub-divisions, or solar terms, of the lunar calendar. The season includes "Jungbok" (中伏), which is one of the three hottest summer days along with "Chobok" and "Malbok." It is the fourth Gyeong Day (庚日) after "Haji," the summer solstice.

대서 관련 자료

"Landscape of Daeseo" by Lee Eok-yeong	An article on Daeseo in the Chosun Ilbo dated July 24, 1970.

During this time Korea has its hottest days, in time for "Jungbok" (中伏), of the year. In the olden days, around "Daeseo" the heat was so intense that there was a saying the heat could "melt a goat’s horn." As "Daeseo" usually falls around "Jungbok," as in 2013, people used to go on a picnic in a valley or at a pavilion in the mountains to escape the heat and to enjoy food and drinks there. However, some years saw heavy rains around this time of the year due to the seasonal monsoon front across the Korean Peninsula.

대서 관련 그림과 자료

Escaping the Heat in Seoul	Escaping the Heat in Seosan City, Chungcheongnam-do

The most intense, scorching and sweltering heat can be experienced in Korea around this time. The reason why such periods of intense heat were divided into three Bok days and given titles like "Soseo" and "Daeseo" was to emphasize the hot weather. Around this time, farmers had no time to rest, as they were busy weeding paddies and fields, cutting down weeds around the edges of paddies and fields, and stocking up fertilizers. Summer in Korea is a season of abundant fruit and vegetables, such as Korean melons and watermelons, which taste most delicious. But it is said that too much rain will ruin the taste, as the dry season is ideal for cultivating fruit. Freshly cropped wheat and barley were also enjoyed around this time.