Residents of the Dong-eui-dong slum in Seoul are struggling to endure a heat wave as temperatures climb across the city [1].
The situation highlights the precarious nature of urban poverty, where the presence of cooling technology does not guarantee relief if the cost of power is prohibitive.
Seoul's average temperature reached 30 °C by nine a.m. this Monday [1], with daytime highs hitting 33 °C [1]. In the narrow alleys of the Dong-eui-dong neighborhood, the heat is intensified by the lack of functional public infrastructure. A "cooling-fog" system, designed to spray water and lower the perceived temperature for pedestrians, is currently inoperable due to a breaker failure [1].
While many residents have air conditioning units installed in their rooms, they are unable to use them consistently. The fear of high electricity bills forces many to limit their use of the machines, leaving them vulnerable to the sweltering conditions [1].
"Residents' rooms have air conditioners installed, but they cannot keep them running due to worries about electricity bills," Jung Young-soo said [1].
The failure of the municipal cooling system has left the neighborhood without its primary outdoor defense against the heat. Jung said that the cooling-fog system should be operating at this time, but the broken breaker has left the alleys hot [1].
Local residents continue to navigate the heat wave with limited resources, relying on intermittent cooling, and enduring the high temperatures of the urban center [1].
“Residents' rooms have air conditioners installed, but they cannot keep them running due to worries about electricity bills.”
This situation illustrates the 'energy poverty' gap in high-income cities. While the physical infrastructure for cooling—such as air conditioners and municipal fogging systems—exists, the actual utility of these tools is negated by economic barriers and maintenance failures. For the most vulnerable populations in Seoul, the heat wave is not just a meteorological event but a financial and systemic crisis.
