"The Cold Starts at Night"... Vulnerable Groups Lost on the Way to Meaningless 'Cold Wave Shelters' [Report]

Senior Centers as Cold Wave Shelters Close by 6 PM
'24-Hour' District Office Civil Service Desks Are Only Temporary Measures
Calls for Practical Alternatives to Protect Vulnerable Groups from Cold

"It’s snowing today, and it will get colder at night, but there’s nowhere to go."

Around 12 PM on the 27th, dozens of elderly people lined up near Tapgol Park in Jongno-gu, Seoul to receive free meals. Photo by Yeom Da-yeon

Near Tapgol Park in Jongno-gu, Seoul, around noon on the 27th. Despite the cold weather with snow falling, dozens of elderly people were lining up to receive free meals. Mr. Kim (87), whom we met here, said, "During the day, there are senior centers and it’s easier to get around, but at night, there’s nowhere to go." He added, "Even when I try to go to shelters run by the government or city, they say things like ‘Today is Saturday’ or ‘There’s no water today,’ and there’s a lot of fuss and awkwardness, so I just leave."

The elderly people we met that day all expressed concern about how to endure the biting cold wave that is about to start again. Mr. Lee (82) also said, "If I had money, there would be many places to sleep, but how can I live on just the 300,000 won pension I get every month?" He added, "I try to sleep in the warm underground passage near Seoul Station as much as possible."

With this winter expected to be colder than usual, voices are rising that facilities and measures such as 'cold wave shelters' for vulnerable groups who have difficulty preparing for the cold should be more thoroughly arranged to cover all time periods. Unlike summer, when midday is the hottest, in winter, most facilities or spaces close at night, which is the coldest time.

We visited a senior center, the most accessible 'cold wave and heat wave shelter' for vulnerable groups, but the operating hours were from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mr. Lee Gil-seong (83), whom we met at a senior center in Jongno-gu, said, "Usually, the senior center closes around 5 or 6 p.m., but that’s when it gets really cold, so all the elderly wish the operating hours could be extended." He added, "If you are financially comfortable or have family, who would want to go outside? Most people have to be alone without friends or family, so I hope the shelters can play that role more."

A sign reading 'Heatwave and Cold Wave Shelter' is posted at a senior center in Jongno-gu, Seoul. Photo by Yeom Da-yeon

The Ministry of the Interior and Safety and Seoul City encourage each district to operate cold wave shelters 24 hours a day from November to March. Currently, 67 shelters are operating in Seoul, but they are practically meaningless. Most are set up in customer service offices within district offices, where people can only sit briefly before leaving. A district office official said, "For several years, we have kept the service office open during winter, but since people cannot sleep there, almost no one visits," adding, "It seems like an unrealistic measure."

Also, the 'Climate Companion Shelter,' a heating and cooling shared store operated by Seoul City since last winter, is not well publicized and has few users. Currently, 505 places including convenience stores, Shinhan Bank, and KT agencies participate in the Climate Companion Shelter program. A KT agency official in Jongno-gu, Seoul, selected as a shelter, said, "We have been operating as a shelter since summer, but not a single person has visited because of the shelter." He explained, "Many people don’t know what the shelter is, and even if there is a sticker, people might hesitate to enter the store because of the cold."

A 'Climate Companion Shelter' sticker is attached to a KT agency in Jongno-gu, Seoul. Photo by Yeom Da-yeon

Seoul City also acknowledged the situation regarding the Climate Companion Shelter and cold wave shelters and plans to continue responding. A Seoul City official said, "Most citizens seem unfamiliar with the Climate Companion Shelter, but we will continue to expand it through collaboration with private companies and promotion," adding, "We will also inspect to ensure cold wave shelters operate properly and actively respond by sector ahead of the cold."

Experts emphasize that realistic measures must be prepared for vulnerable groups susceptible to the cold. Professor Jung Jae-hoon of the Department of Social Welfare at Seoul Women’s University said, "The reason cold wave shelters do not operate late at night is due to lack of personnel and budget, but entrusting private welfare facilities for a certain period in winter would be the fastest solution." He also pointed out, "It should not end as a temporary measure only during the cold, but fundamentally be resolved from the perspective of housing security."

Professor Park Seung-hee of the Department of Social Welfare at Sungkyunkwan University also suggested, "During the cold winter, it is necessary to temporarily expand the operation of shelters such as senior centers, but simply providing shelters is not the entirety of social security." She recommended, "The government should approach the issue in a way that resolves housing problems for the elderly and vulnerable groups."