Residents of Guryong Village in South Korea are spending the summer in plastic-covered tents after a fire destroyed their homes [1].
The situation highlights the precarious living conditions of the village's most vulnerable population, primarily the elderly, who lack permanent housing and climate-controlled shelter during a severe heatwave [1, 2].
The displacement began in January 2024, when a large fire razed the residential structures [1]. Since then, the affected residents have been forced to rely on temporary tent shelters. As temperatures climbed throughout the summer of 2024, these plastic structures became heat traps, offering little protection from the sun [1, 2].
To combat the rising temperatures, some residents have deployed as many as four or five fans within their small shelters [1]. However, residents said the cooling is insufficient. One resident described the struggle, saying that while normal houses are hot, the conditions in the tents are beyond words. The resident said that even with four or five fans running, the machines eventually begin to blow warm air, leaving them to simply pretend the air feels cool to cope with the heat [1].
Local news reports said that those who lost their homes to the blaze earlier this year are facing a summer more difficult than any other group [1]. The lack of permanent reconstruction means that the elderly population remains exposed to the elements in structures that were intended only as short-term emergency measures [1, 2].
“Even with four or five fans running, the machines eventually begin to blow warm air.”
The plight of Guryong Village residents underscores the intersection of urban poverty, aging populations, and climate vulnerability. When temporary shelters become the only option for the displaced, a lack of adequate infrastructure transforms a manageable heatwave into a life-threatening health risk for the elderly.
