Extreme Heat and Torrential Rain... The Especially Difficult Summer of the Pagoda Elder

"It seems the weather is warming up. It's a bit cool today."

At around 11:30 a.m. on the 28th of last month, at Pagoda Park located in Jongno, Seoul. Following continuous rain from the previous day, the maximum temperature dropped to 26℃, prompting an elderly man to say this to another elderly man sitting beside him. To the right of the main gate of Pagoda Park, monochrome umbrellas were lined up in a row, waiting for free meals. After 10 minutes, as the elderly who had finished their meals lined up to receive lunch boxes, the umbrella line extended to the left side of the main gate. At 12 p.m., with the umbrella line gone from the main gate of Pagoda Park, an elderly man was eating a lunch box he had received under the eaves. At the back of the park, there was a white-haired elderly man carefully moving pieces on a shiny, rain-soaked janggi (Korean chess) board, with other elderly people wearing umbrellas watching.

At around 11:30 a.m. on the 28th of last month, elderly people holding umbrellas were lined up in the alley to the right of Pagoda Park in Jongno-gu, Seoul, in front of a free meal service center. Photo by Hwang Seoyul chestnut@

Despite the somewhat humid but cooler weather, Mr. Park showed a reaction of "finally a break." This summer had been particularly tough. According to the heat-related illness emergency room surveillance system, from May 20 to August 28 nationwide, there were 2,672 heat-related illness cases and an estimated 31 deaths. This is the highest number of heat-related illness cases in the past five years. During the same period, 1,503 cases were recorded in 2022, 1,338 in 2021, 1,009 in 2020, and 1,799 in 2019. Among this year's heat-related illness cases, those aged 65 and older accounted for 29.9% (799 people). Mr. Kim Gye-seok (76), who was sitting on a folding chair under an umbrella, laughed and said, "I used to feel dizzy when I came out in the heat."

Around 5 p.m. on the 22nd of last month, as water began to rise in Pagoda Park due to poor drainage, a park manager is opening a manhole cover with equipment.
Photo by Seoyul Hwang chestnut@

The excessive rainfall this summer was also a hardship for the elderly. Compared to the past five years in July, this year recorded the highest number of rainy days and the greatest rainfall. At around 5 p.m. on the 22nd of last month, heavy rain filled Pagoda Park with water. Water even surged over the main gate. When the park manager opened a manhole cover with equipment, water was sucked in like pulling a bathtub drain. Even at that time, several elderly people were sitting in the pavilion inside Pagoda Park.

The elderly said they had no choice but to come out despite the bad weather. Mr. Kim said, "Rain or shine, I come out every day," adding, "If I stay home alone, all I do is eat rice with kimchi, but when I come here, I can have a hearty meal." Mr. Park Chan-cheol (86) also said, "I get bored if I stay home, so I come even if it's hot or raining," adding, "They give us lunch boxes, so I eat a meal and then leave."

Another reason was the lack of suitable places to go besides Pagoda Park. Mr. Park, in his 70s, who comes here daily from Songpa-gu with a cane, said, "Many people around me tell me to go to Olympic Park, but there are no elderly people there," adding, "When I come here, there are people like me with leg problems, and we share stories and find comfort together." Mr. Kim also said, "I think there might be gatherings in my neighborhood, but I don't know about them and it's a hassle to find out," adding, "Everyone comes here (Pagoda Park)."

Still, the elderly expressed relief at the prospect of cooler weather ahead. Mr. Park Chan-cheol said, "It's really cool today," adding, "I think the weather will get better now." Mr. Park, who was sheltering from the rain under the eaves set up to protect the Daewongak Monument, stayed there for a while before leaving.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.