Surviving summer in S. Korea's Yeongdeungpo-gu shanty town

Though the extremely hot temperature is a pain for everyone, it becomes especially difficult for those in vulnerable areas.

Our Ahn Sung-jin has this report.

76-year-old Kim Ok-ja has lived here for decades, in a shanty town in Yeongdeungpo-gu District, Seoul.

Despite the sweltering heat wave and rain leaking through the walls in summer, she says she's thankful for what she has to survive the deadly summer.

"I have been given this air conditioning system and a fan. Since a lot of us here are old people, officers would come out in the afternoon to make sure that we don't have any problems. During the summer, when it's hot, I'll also go to the shelter. It may look uncomfortable to other people, but I'm just thankful that I can get this much help."

South Korea is enduring one of its most punishing heat waves ever.

The first ten days of July this year marked the most intense in 118 years.

And it is often the country's most vulnerable who are hit the hardest.

"Temperatures in Seoul this summer are reaching around 35 or 36 degrees Celsius, but in these tiny cubicles, the tight, cluttered space makes the heat and humidity even worse. That's why the local government provides various services, including this cooling fog system."

In the face of rising temperatures, pockets of hope emerge.

Though not all buildings can support the cooling fog system, for the buildings that do, it helps cool those sitting outside to escape the heat.

The local government has ramped this up for this year, including adding additional air conditioning indoors and building facilities like this cooling shelter and warehouse that opened just a few weeks ago.

"This space is made for the residents. Previously, we would just hand out provided necessities collectively, but now they can come and choose the items they need by themselves. And instead of waiting in line outside, they can rest inside here without sweating in the heat like today."

Most of these houses do not have proper bathrooms or places to shower, so during the summer, this community area is a lifesaver.

"It's really convenient. I can't go to the market, and there's nothing to eat at home. Every time I come, they're so welcoming, and that makes me truly grateful. Honestly, my kids wouldn't do this for me these days."

"I'm just thankful that this space is here for us."

The country runs a special summer emergency response program until the end of September, placing a special focus on protecting the vulnerable.

However, as the streets still sizzle under the relentless sun, for the vulnerable residents living alone, summer becomes a question of survival.

Ahn Sung-jin, Arirang News.