What stark contrast defines Gangnam and Guryong Village during the heatwave?

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The stark contrast between Gangnam and Guryong Village during the heatwave is defined by access to air conditioning, highlighting a significant wealth divide.

During a severe heatwave in Seoul, the affluent Gangnam district showcases a stark division between its wealthy residents and those in the nearby Guryong Village settlement. While Gangnam's luxurious homes are equipped with modern amenities like air conditioning, allowing residents to manage the extreme temperatures, the inhabitants of Guryong Village, living in makeshift shacks, suffer immensely due to their inability to afford cooling systems. This disparity in access to basic comfort during a climate crisis underscores the widening economic gap in South Korea.
Guryong Village residents face extreme indoor temperatures without cooling

In Guryong Village, a settlement comprising approximately 160 households built with crude wood and tarpaulin, residents are enduring sweltering conditions. Temperatures inside their homes have been recorded soaring over 40C when the external temperature is around 35C. Many, like Ko Jae-ok, an 87-year-old resident, rely on discarded battery-powered fans that offer minimal relief from the oppressive heat.
Gangnam's wealthy enjoy modern comforts and managed heat

Conversely, homes in the vicinity of Guryong Village, within the exclusive Gangnam district, represent a stark opposite. These residences, some selling for up to 5.4 billion won, are fitted with contemporary features, prominently including air conditioning. For wealthy residents like 20-year-old Jeong Eun-woo, the summer heat is manageable, as they can maintain their air conditioning units running at full capacity.
The heatwave exacerbates South Korea's widening wealth gap

The current heatwave serves as a potent symbol of South Korea's growing wealth disparity. Official data from 2025 indicates that the richest 20% of the population holds an average of 45 times the net assets of the poorest 20%. This economic divide is acutely felt in Guryong Village, a community with roots in evictions preceding the 1988 Olympics, which remains vulnerable to extreme weather events.
Official relief efforts provide limited respite for Guryong residents

While local authorities have responded to the crisis by establishing an emergency heat shelter and distributing cooling appliances, these measures offer only marginal relief to many in Guryong Village. The heatwave has already claimed numerous lives, with the death toll reaching 16 by Sunday, and authorities have issued warnings about the life-threatening nature of the current temperatures.

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What stark contrast defines Gangnam and Guryong Village during the heatwave?

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