As Temperatures Hit 39.5°C (103°F), Residents of "Jjokbangchon" and Market Vendors Say They Have No Choice But to Endure

As I entered a narrow alley in the Jjokbangchon near Yeongdeungpo Station at 2:30 p.m. on July 12, the thermometer soared to 39.5°C (103°F).

This was the highest temperature I measured while touring the Yeongdeungpo area that day.

Even though I am not someone who usually sweats much, my entire body, including the back of my neck, was drenched in sweat.

In the alleys, elderly residents sat in the shade with exhausted expressions.

The cooling fog system installed by Yeongdeungpo-gu felt refreshing the moment it touched my skin, but it was not enough to cool down the sweltering heat.

One resident said, "It is too hot inside, so I came out," adding, "I am afraid of the electricity bill, so I don't use the fan much even though I have one. This place is our shelter because of the cooling fog."

The sound of a television leaked from one of the small rooms inside the alley.

When I called out, "Excuse me," an 84-year-old man surnamed Kim opened the door with a face reddened by the heat, wearing only a sleeveless shirt.

The room, which had neither an air conditioner nor a fan, lacked any device to alleviate the heat.

Wiping the sweat streaming down his face with a towel, Kim said, "Because my legs hurt, it is difficult for me to go out, so I am just enduring the heat."

Under the overpass at Yeongdeungpo Station, five elderly women I had met earlier at a free church meal center were gathered together.

Each of them was holding a plastic bottle filled with lukewarm water.

A 70-year-old woman surnamed Kim said, "Staying at home only racks up the electricity bill," adding, "It is at least cooler under the bridge, so everyone around here sits here all day."

She mentioned that they get their water from a water purifier at a nearby restaurant.

Earlier that morning, I visited Saryeoga Market in Singil-dong, where most of the shops were closed.

In the few shops that were operating, vendors were fanning themselves repeatedly to endure the heat.

A 69-year-old vendor surnamed Lee, who has been selling vegetables at the market for 25 years, was waiting for customers while relying on a single fan.

Lee explained, "If I turn on the air conditioner, it costs 500,000 won a month, which is unaffordable."

A merchant selling men's clothing sat on a bamboo chair, fanning himself with the breeze from a fan, and said, "What can we do even if it is hot? We are just doing our business."

Citizens on the streets were busy avoiding spots exposed to direct sunlight.

At traffic lights, people repeatedly waited inside nearby buildings, watching through glass doors for the green light before running out to cross the street.

At bus stops, citizens gathered in small groups under the narrow shade created by a single tree.

Citizens holding portable fans kept repeating, "It is hot."

A 30-year-old surnamed Jang, holding an iced Americano, said, "The weather was quite cool last month, so I thought this summer wouldn't be very hot, but I was surprised when I went out today," adding, "I should call my parents in the countryside to check on them."

(Photo: Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.