Early Tropical Nights Arrive... Residents of Jjokbangchon Say "Breathing Feels Suffocating"

Earlier-than-usual midsummer heat
Residents of jjokbangchon face 'sleepless nights'
No measures until 'night heat shelters' operate

On the morning of the 13th around 10 a.m., I visited the Donui-dong jjokbangchon (tiny room village) in Jongno-gu, Seoul. Despite it being morning, the sun was blazing, and there was not a breath of wind in the narrow alleys. The heat was such that even walking a little made sweat bead up on the skin.

The residents of the jjokbangchon came out into the alleys to enjoy the cool air from the ‘cooling fog’ devices installed on each building. Resident Kwon Seon-myeong (69) said, “There is a small fan in the room, but it only blows hot air, so I came outside. When I get sprayed with the mist (cooling fog), the heat eases a bit.”

Around 10 a.m. on the 12th, a resident of the Donui-dong gosiwon village in Jongno-gu, Seoul, came out into the alley to enjoy the cool breeze from a cooling fog and take a rest.
[Photo by Seong-A Shim]

The situation was no different in Dongja-dong jjokbangchon in Yongsan-gu, the largest of the five major jjokbangchon in Seoul (Changsin-dong, Donui-dong, Namdaemunro 5-ga, Dongja-dong, Yeongdeungpo-dong). Residents, unable to bear the heat inside their rooms, were sitting in small groups in nearby parks to cool off. Yoon (64) said, “It’s so hot inside the room that I can’t even sleep. Some people have already spread mats outside their homes to sleep.”

With tropical nights arriving earlier than last year, the damage caused by the heat could increase, requiring thorough preparation. Especially, a red alert has been raised for the safety of jjokbangchon residents living in spaces barely one pyeong (about 3.3 square meters) without even windows. Donui-dong resident Yoon Yong-gyu (69) sighed, “It’s hotter than last year. I can feel the tropical nights approaching. Sweat runs down my back, making it hard to fall asleep these days.”

Buildings with air conditioners installed in the hallways are somewhat better off. The Seoul Metropolitan Government has installed about 160 shared air conditioners in the five major jjokbangchon in the city. However, since the air conditioners are installed in the hallways, rooms far from them do not receive much airflow. For women living alone, opening the door at night to get air poses safety risks and causes discomfort. Donui-dong resident Kim (65) said, “Most of the neighbors are men, so it’s difficult to sleep with the door open.”

The heatwaves that come every summer are not just ‘hot weather’ for jjokbangchon residents but can be deadly. According to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, from May 20 to September 30 last year, there were 2,818 heat-related illness cases and 32 estimated deaths. From the 20th of last month to the 11th of this month, 108 heat-related illness cases and one estimated death have already occurred.

Since most jjokbangchon have no windows and poor ventilation, the inside feels even more stifling than the outside air. Dongja-dong resident Lee said, “Many residents here have underlying health conditions or are in poor health, and many pass away after staying in these hot rooms on such hot days.”

Seoul City operates ‘night heat shelters’ every July and August for jjokbangchon residents. Residents can sleep at designated places from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. However, with the heat arriving earlier than usual and only two weeks left until July, jjokbangchon residents are waiting without any special measures.

A Seoul city official said, “This year, we plan to extend the operating hours of the night heat shelters and install additional cooling fog devices and shared air conditioners. We are thoroughly preparing to cope with the heatwave.”