Dunsan Urban Forest in Daejeon, transformed into a lush green space between the Government Complex Daejeon and Daejeon City Hall. (Photo courtesy of the Korea Forest Service)
SEOUL, July 11 (Korea Bizwire) — A new study by South Korea’s National Institute of Forest Science has found a clear link between urban forest coverage and lower surface temperatures during summer months, reinforcing the role of green spaces in mitigating urban heat.
Using Landsat satellite imagery, researchers analyzed the average land surface temperature and urban forest area across Seoul’s 25 districts as of August 29, 2023. The results show that districts with greater tree coverage tend to record significantly lower temperatures.
Gangbuk District, which has the highest urban forest coverage at 62.3%, recorded the lowest average surface temperature at 34.9°C. It was followed by Jongno (61.1%), Gwanak (57.4%), Eunpyeong (52.2%), and Dobong (51.3%) — all of which had average temperatures between 34.9°C and 36.2°C.
In contrast, Yeongdeungpo District, with just 5.8% forest coverage, had one of the highest recorded surface temperatures at 39.1°C, along with other low-coverage districts including Gangseo (10.2%), Seongdong (10.8%), Songpa (11.6%), and Dongdaemun (11.7%). Their temperatures ranged between 36.9°C and 39.1°C.
Across all districts, the average urban forest coverage was 30.6%.
The study revealed a negative correlation between urban forest area and surface temperature, highlighting the potential of green infrastructure to combat the urban heat island effect.
“To alleviate heat in city centers, local governments should prioritize the expansion of urban forests,” said Park Chan-yeol, director of the Urban Forest Research Center. He added that even small green installations — such as roadside trees and vegetation on traffic islands — could play a critical role and should be actively implemented using available urban spaces.
M. H. Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)
