Wearing a Vest with a Fan, Hanging 30m in Midair... Heatwave at Apartment Construction Site

Apartment Exterior Repainting in 35-Degree Scorching Sun
Resident Offers Ice Water: "Ah, Refreshing"

At around 11 a.m. on the 31st, in an apartment complex in Jung-gu, Seoul, exterior repainting work was in full swing amid the scorching heat with a perceived temperature reaching 35 degrees Celsius. Under the blazing sun, heat haze rose from the ground, and the apartment exterior wall felt like a scorching hot stone slab to the touch. About 30 workers were busy painting the apartment exterior walls, hanging on for tens of minutes without any shade. Occasionally, those who came down to rest in the shade gulped down water continuously and wiped the sweat dripping from their faces.

Around 11 a.m. on the 31st, an apartment complex in Jung-gu, Seoul. Exterior repainting work is underway under the blazing sun.
Photo by Taewon Choi skking@

Kim Sseryo, a site manager (42) of Korean descent who immigrated to Korea with his family in 2016, said, "Since the work involves hanging on the building exterior walls, there is no shade, and the walls get hot, making it much harder on hotter days." He added, "When the weather is too hot, we sometimes delay work hours and try to ensure the workers get enough rest."

Most of the workers on site that day were young Korean descendants in their 20s and 30s who had come from Central Asia and Eastern Europe. Despite the tough labor, they relied on each other and did not lose their smiles. When they met workers working on the exterior walls of adjacent buildings at similar heights, they greeted each other warmly and continued their work while chatting in Russian, Uzbek, and other languages.

Various equipment to endure the heat was also introduced. Hats, cool towels, and even vests equipped with mini fans were deployed. For workers who find it difficult to wear short sleeves and shorts due to safety reasons, these are weapons against the heat. Han Mo (31, male), a Korean descendant worker from Kazakhstan, said, "It was so hot that some workers bought vests with mini fans attached for 37,000 won with their own money and wore them. When you put in batteries, the wind blows through your body throughout the work."

At around 11:40 a.m. on the 31st, in an apartment complex in Jung-gu, Seoul, a resident is handing ice water to workers repainting the exterior of the apartment who are struggling with the heat.
Photo by Taewon Choi skking@

At around 11:40 a.m., a resident brought a plastic bag full of ice water and handed it out to the workers. The workers bowed their heads in gratitude as if accustomed to it. When they said "Thank you" in a clumsy but sincere voice, the resident waved their hand awkwardly and walked away. A security guard at the apartment said, "Residents often bring ice water and drinks. The workers also bring water, but on hot days, they quickly drink it all. Then, sometimes, we get water from the security office's water purifier and give it to them."

As noon approached, the workers began gathering in small groups in the shade. While cooling off briefly and preparing paint for the afternoon, lunch was delivered according to each person's preference, including cold noodles and rice bowls. Proving the hard labor, the meal was finished in the blink of an eye. After enjoying a sweet rest under the shade, the workers plunged back into the scorching heat for the afternoon work.