Incheon International Airport Corp began evicting approximately 20 homeless individuals from its premises on June 10, 2024 [1], [2].
The move highlights the tension between public facility management and the survival needs of vulnerable populations during extreme weather events.
Airport officials cited Article 56 of the Airport Facilities Act to justify the removals. The law prohibits sleeping on airport premises, according to Incheon International Airport Corp [1]. Officials said the evictions were necessary to restore order and passenger comfort after the presence of homeless individuals caused congestion and disturbances for travelers [1].
Many of the individuals had sought shelter at the airport to escape a severe heat wave. Temperatures during the period exceeded 38°C [1]. For those without permanent housing, the climate-controlled terminals served as a critical refuge from the lethal outdoor heat.
"공항시설법 제56조에 따라 노숙행위는 금지돼 있다" (Sleeping is prohibited under Article 56 of the Airport Facilities Act), the Incheon International Airport Corp said [1].
A homeless-rights advocacy group protested the eviction notices. The group said the airport was a final sanctuary for those with nowhere else to go during the extreme weather [1]. They argued that enforcing strict facility laws during a heat wave jeopardizes the lives of the city's most vulnerable residents.
The airport corporation said that the regulations must be applied to ensure the facility remains functional for its primary purpose of transporting passengers [1].
“The law prohibits sleeping on airport premises.”
This conflict illustrates the gap in urban emergency infrastructure during climate extremes. When municipal shelters are insufficient or inaccessible during heat waves, critical transport hubs often become default shelters, forcing a clash between legal facility mandates and humanitarian necessity.
