A cloud of mist rises on Yeoui-daero in Seoul on the afternoon of August 12, while a heat warning is in effect. (Yonhap)
SEOUL, Aug. 18 (Korea Bizwire) – With an unprecedented heat wave engulfing the Korean Peninsula this summer, many South Koreans are experiencing a stark awakening to the realities of climate change, prompting calls for urgent action.
On August 16, Seoul’s daytime temperature peaked at 34.3 degrees Celsius, according to the Korea Meteorological Administration. Even after the traditional end of summer, most regions across the country continue to endure heat index values hovering around 35°C.
The capital city has been particularly hard hit, enduring 26 consecutive tropical nights from July 21 to August 15 – the longest streak in 118 years of weather records. Tropical nights, defined as when temperatures do not fall below 25°C, have become a hallmark of this summer’s extreme heat.
“In previous years, the heat usually broke after Malbok (the end of the dog days of summer),” said Lee, a 30-year-old office worker. “But this year, it’s still suffocating the moment you step outside. I’ve never seen baseball games canceled due to extreme heat before. We’ve talked about the climate crisis being serious, but this is the first time I’ve felt it so viscerally.”
The severity of the situation has many South Koreans reassessing their daily habits. Cho, 35, expressed concern for elderly relatives: “I called my grandparents to warn them to be careful. When heat waves become a matter of life and death, it’s clear we need urgent countermeasures.”
On the afternoon of August 15, during the longest consecutive stretch of tropical nights in Busan’s history, many people gathered at Gwangalli Beach in Suyeong-gu, Busan, to enjoy the sea breeze and escape the heat. (Yonhap)
Some citizens are taking personal action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Lee, a 32-year-old from Daejeon, said, “I don’t want to pass on such an unlivable world to future children. I’m trying to use public transportation more and reduce my consumption of carbon-intensive meat.”
The climate crisis extends far beyond South Korea’s borders. A recent analysis by CarbonPlan, reported by CNN, suggests that by 2050, nearly half of the 24 cities that have hosted or are scheduled to host the Summer Olympics – including Seoul – may become too hot to do so again.
Despite individual efforts, some express a sense of helplessness. Kim, a 26-year-old graduate student, lamented, “We’ve been hearing that the Earth is getting hotter since elementary school, but I’m not sure what’s changed. When countries emitting enormous amounts of carbon aren’t reducing their emissions, what difference does it make if individuals turn off their air conditioners to save energy?”
Climate activists argue that government-led energy transition efforts are crucial. Kwon Osung, media team leader at Solutions for Our Climate, emphasized, “The government must actively work to prevent greenhouse gas emissions, the root cause of impending climate disasters, as much as it supports vulnerable groups affected by heat waves.”
In response to these concerns, over 400 civic groups are organizing a “Climate Justice March” on September 7 under the slogan “Let’s Change the World, Not the Climate.” The march will take place on Gangnam-daero, a street lined with major corporate buildings, symbolizing the organizers’ belief that the growth and profit-centered economic system is at the root of the climate crisis.
Lee Young Kyung, the head of the planning team for the march, criticized South Korea’s 2030 greenhouse gas reduction target as insufficient given the country’s economic status and historical emissions. “We need to set a more aggressive plan for phasing out coal, and ensure that the transition process is just,” Lee added.
M. H. Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)
