Extreme heat and high humidity have transformed Seoul's Gwanghwamun Square into a sauna-like environment for citizens and visitors [1].
The conditions highlight the growing challenge of managing urban heat islands in densely populated metropolitan areas. When high temperatures combine with oppressive humidity, the body's ability to cool itself through perspiration is diminished, increasing the risk of heat-related illness.
Visitors to the square reported that the air felt thick and difficult to breathe. Song Min-cheol said the experience was similar to being in a sauna where breathing becomes obstructed [1]. The oppressive atmosphere has made it difficult for pedestrians to remain cool despite seeking relief near water features in the area [1, 2].
Some visitors attempted to use available water to lower their body temperatures. Kwon Oh-muk said that after entering the water with children and getting wet, the moisture evaporated from their clothing in less than 30 minutes due to the intense heat [1].
Reporter Jeong Young-soo said the combination of heat and moisture created a stifling effect that persisted even for those attempting to find shade [1]. The conditions have turned one of the city's most prominent public landmarks into a zone of physical distress for the public [1, 2].
“The square turned into a 'giant sauna' as extreme heat and high humidity made it difficult for people to breathe.”
This situation illustrates the 'urban heat island' effect, where concrete and asphalt in city centers like Seoul trap heat more effectively than rural areas. The reported rapid evaporation of water and breathing difficulties suggest a high heat index, which is a measure of how hot it feels when humidity is combined with air temperature. Such conditions place significant stress on public health infrastructure and necessitate more aggressive urban cooling strategies to protect vulnerable populations.
