A recent report reveals stark differences in climate vulnerability across Seoul's districts, emphasizing the need for targeted policies.
Category: Science
On a scorching summer day in Seoul, the heat can feel oppressive, yet the impact of extreme temperatures varies significantly across the city's districts. A recent report has shed light on these disparities, indicating that certain areas are far more vulnerable to the effects of heat waves than others. This situation calls for urgent, customized policies to address the specific needs of the most affected communities.
The report, released by the Seoul City Council's research group, highlights the Seoul Climate Vulnerability Index (SCVI), which evaluates climate vulnerability based on factors such as exposure to heat, the proportion of elderly residents, green space availability, access to cooling centers, and socio-economic resilience. The index assigns higher scores to areas with greater vulnerability, and the findings reveal a troubling trend: the most affected districts are primarily located in the outskirts of the city.
According to the SCVI, districts such as Gangbuk (0.858), Dobong (0.793), Jungnang (0.761), Geumcheon (0.738), Eunpyeong (0.720), and Dongdaemun (0.715) are classified as highly vulnerable, receiving an A rating. These areas are characterized by high aging rates and low access to green spaces. For example, Gangbuk has an aging rate of 26.4% and a basic pension recipient rate of 73%, with only 34.6 cooling centers per 100,000 residents, falling short of the city average of 42.8.
Similarly, Dobong's aging rate stands at 26.3%, and the per capita park area is only 3.67 square meters, significantly below the city average of 5.8 square meters. Such statistics paint a stark picture of the challenges faced by these communities when dealing with extreme heat.
The report also notes a worrying increase in the frequency of heat waves. Days categorized as heat waves rose dramatically from just six days in 2005 to 35 days in 2018, marking an increase of approximately 5.8 times. Likewise, the number of tropical nights—when temperatures remain above 25 degrees Celsius—has nearly doubled from 11 days to 29 days over the same period. In fact, this summer, Seoul recorded its highest temperature ever at 39.6 degrees Celsius in 2018, and just recently, a staggering 40.2 degrees was observed in Nowon-gu on August 7, 2026.
As the climate crisis intensifies, the average annual temperature in Seoul has risen from 10.7 degrees Celsius in the 1910s to 13.0 degrees Celsius in the 2010s, an increase of 2.3 degrees over a century. This trend poses immediate health risks and raises long-term concerns about the adaptability of the city’s infrastructure.
The report emphasizes that low-income and vulnerable populations are disproportionately affected by extreme heat. A targeted focus group interview (FGI) conducted with 23 residents from vulnerable districts revealed that 39.1% identified heat waves as the most threatening climate disaster. Alarmingly, only 39.1% of respondents reported using air conditioning, with many relying solely on fans or circulators. The main barriers to air conditioning usage included the burden of electricity costs (56.5%) and the absence of air conditioning units (34.8%).
Access to cooling centers also presented challenges; 56.5% of respondents stated that geographical barriers, such as distance and steep terrain, hindered their ability to utilize these facilities. The research team pointed out that the effectiveness of cooling center policies hinges not merely on the number of centers but on their accessibility and awareness among residents.
In response to these findings, the report advocates for a shift in focus from merely increasing the number of cooling facilities to ensuring equitable access to cooling resources for vulnerable populations. Specific recommendations include providing differentiated support for cooling costs for low-income households, enhancing energy vouchers, prioritizing the installation of cooling devices and insulation in vulnerable housing, and conducting health checks for at-risk populations during heat waves.
The researchers concluded that a structural mismatch exists where sensitive populations are concentrated in areas lacking adequate resources to respond to climate challenges. They stressed the necessity of deploying more resources in these vulnerable regions to mitigate the impacts of extreme heat effectively.
As the summer heat continues to challenge the residents of Seoul, the urgency for targeted climate adaptation policies grows. The disparities highlighted by the SCVI report serve as a call to action for city officials and policymakers to address these inequities and safeguard the health and well-being of all citizens, particularly those in the most vulnerable circumstances.
With climate change exacerbating existing inequalities, the time to act is now. The city must prioritize the development of comprehensive strategies to protect its most at-risk residents from the harsh realities of a warming world.