Gaps in heat wave preparations leave some Seoulites sweltering

Social Affairs

Published: 19 Jun. 2024, 15:22 Updated: 19 Jun. 2024, 19:05

Gaps in heat wave preparations leave some Seoulites sweltering

66 year-old Jeon Soo-yong and 71 year-old Cho Myeong-soon cool off the heat under a cooling fog system in Jongno District, Seoul on Monday.

As Korea braces for a scorching summer, fogging systems, which transform water into mist to cool hot air, could provide some relief.

They might not be easily accessible, however.

On Monday, when the daytime temperature reached a high of 30 degrees Celsius (86 degrees Fahrenheit) in Seoul, 66-year-old Jeon Soo-yong and 71-year-old Cho Myeong-soon sought respite under a fogging system.

“I don't have an air conditioner at home and usually don't turn on the fan to save on electric bills," Jeon said. "I cannot endure the heat without this cooling fog.”

Jeon added that people sometimes line up on the street to enjoy the refreshing mist.

The fogging system acts as a "street air conditioner” for those without air conditioning at home or who spend most of their time outside.

A person enjoys mist from a fogging system at Seoul City Hall on Thursday. [NEWS1]

The system sprays water particles from a nozzle, creating a fine mist with droplets the size of one 10-millionth of a raindrop. Thus, it doesn't make you wet. The sprayed mist cools the air as it evaporates, dropping the surrounding temperature by three to five degrees Celsius.

With this summer expected to be exceptionally hot, the Seoul Metropolitan Government has formed a task force to manage heat waves and expand cooling systems to mitigate the sweltering conditions.

Following the first heat wave advisory on June 10, Seoul experienced scorching temperatures last week.

According to the Korea Meteorological Administration's Automatic Weather Stations (AWS) data, Gangnam and Nowon districts recorded the highest weekly average temperatures at 31.5 degrees Celsius (88.7 degrees Fahrenheit) at 3 p.m. Mapo, Gwangjin, Dongdaemun and Songpa districts were also hot, with temperatures of 31.4, 31.2, 31.0, and 31.0 degree Celsius, respectively.

In contrast, districts near Bukhansan and Gwanaksan Mountains, such as Gwanak, Eunpyeong, Seongbuk, Dobong and Gangbuk, were relatively cooler, with average weekly temperatures ranging from 28.6 to 29.8 degrees Celsius.

Seocho District had the most fogging systems, with 20. Gangnam, the hottest district in Seoul, had seven systems, the second highest number. Nowon District, which recorded the highest temperature along with Gangnam, had only four. Mapo, Dongdaemun and Songpa, despite being similarly hot, had none.

With the Seoul daytime temperature reaching 30 degrees Celcius, people gather under the sun shelter located at four-way crosswalk in Jong District, Soul on Monday afternoon. [NEWS1]

This disparity in cooling systems extends to sun shelters, typically located near crosswalks to provide shade for pedestrians. The "three Gangnam Districts" — Songpa, Gangnam and Seocho — each have over 200 sun shelters, while Seoul's other districts average around 100. Jongno had the fewest, with 57 sun shelters, five times less than Songpa. Mapo, one of the hottest districts, had 71, while Seodaemun had 78.

These regional differences highlight the "divide in heat wave preparedness.”

An official from the Seoul Metropolitan Government explained that the numbers vary due to regional characteristics, district budgets and local government priorities. The official said the city government would provide extra funds to expand the facilities if necessary.

Seoul is also expanding other cooling facilities, such as smart shelters — indoor rest areas near bus stations — and cooling roads, which spray underground water to reduce street temperatures.

However, the installation costs for these cooling facilities can range from a few thousand dollars to several hundred thousand dollars. Fogging systems cost anywhere from 8 million won (about $5,800) to 300 million won, fixed sun shelters from 2 million won to 7 million won and smart sun shelters from 8 million won to 10 million won.

Cooling roads cost about 370 million won, and smart shelters between 80 million won and 100 million won.

Some critics argue that these facilities should be installed more effectively, considering their high installation and maintenance costs. An academic journal published in Seoul Studies, which focuses on urban issues, suggested that the highest-risk area for heat waves is the bus transfer center near Seoul Station, where large crowds gather due to the area's bus and rail nexus.

This area lacks nearby rivers or green spaces and is heavily trafficked by pedestrians. Other suggested areas include Gangbuk District Office, Gangnam Station and Hongik University Station, which are also known for their crowds.

However, half of Seoul's fogging systems are in green zones. For example, in Jung District, where the Seoul Station bus transfer center is located, most of its seven fogging systems are inside parks.

An official from the city government said installing cooling systems on roads faces more space and budget constraints than in parks.

"We are doing our best, such as installing a fogging system on the 26-meter-high exterior wall of the support center for the homeless near Seoul Station, to ensure many residents can benefit,” the official added.

Yun Sun-jin, a professor of Environmental Studies at the Graduate School of Seoul National University, emphasized that with limited funds, “it is more effective to install cooling systems in city centers where the heat island effect is more severe, rather than green spaces that already benefit from temperature reduction through transpiration,” referring to the cooling effect of plants.

Prof. Yun also warned that we face a grave situation as heat waves are practically guaranteed. She stressed the necessity of long-term measures to expand urban infrastructure to support vulnerable groups who must stay outside due to poorly insulated homes.

BY JANG SEO-YOON, WOO JI-WON [woo.jiwon@joongang.co.kr]