Seoul residents are gathering at Mangwon Hangang Park at night to escape a record-breaking heat wave and ongoing tropical-night warnings [1].
The surge of people visiting public parks highlights the growing struggle for urban residents to find affordable and healthy ways to cool down during extreme weather. As indoor air conditioning becomes an exhausting constant, open-air spaces offer a necessary alternative for those seeking relief.
Seoul has been under a tropical-night warning for more than one week [1]. A tropical night is defined by nighttime low temperatures that remain at 26°C or higher [1]. This prolonged heat has pushed the nationwide average to 8.8 tropical-night days [1].
Field reports from the park indicate the current air temperature is 28°C [1]. The feels-like temperature is nearly 30°C [1]. Despite the warmth, citizens continue to migrate toward the river to avoid the stagnant heat of their apartments.
Jin Su-hwang, a citizen from Eunpyeong-gu, said that because it is so hot inside the house, he has been running the air conditioner all day, which has caused him to develop a headache [1]. Such experiences are common among residents who find that constant reliance on indoor cooling leads to physical discomfort.
Local authorities continue to monitor the situation as the record-breaking heat persists. The concentration of people in public parks during the late hours suggests that traditional home cooling methods are insufficient for some during this specific climate event [1].
“Seoul has been under a tropical-night warning for more than one week.”
The trend of 'nighttime outings' in Seoul reflects an urban adaptation to extreme heat where home environments become oppressive. The reliance on public spaces like Hangang Park indicates that the physiological and psychological toll of constant air conditioning—often termed 'air conditioning sickness'—is driving residents to seek natural ventilation and open air, even when temperatures remain high.
