Min Seong-jae (smin@pace.edu) is a professor of communication and media studies at Pace University in New York. He was a 2023-24 Fulbright U.S. Scholar to Korea.
Climate change
By Min Seong-jae
I’ve been visiting Korea frequently over the past two decades, typically during the summer months of July and August. With each visit, I feel the heat intensify — not just metaphorically, but quite literally on my skin. I don’t need to consult reams of data to know that global warming is real. I feel it in the burning pavement under my feet and the suffocating air that makes even short walks exhausting. Breathing becomes more labored, and shade provides only minimal relief.
Rainfall patterns, too, have changed. I now often witness abrupt, heavy downpours more reminiscent of Southeast Asia’s rain squalls than the steady, predictable monsoon rains I remember from my youth in Korea. Flooding has become more frequent and more extreme. Each summer seems to bring another set of images of submerged streets, collapsed retaining walls and overwhelmed drainage systems.
The consequences of global climate change are no longer abstract or distant; they are manifesting in dangerous and disruptive ways. Korea is particularly vulnerable to stronger heatwaves, floods and typhoons. These natural hazards intersect with the country’s dense urban infrastructure, amplifying their impact. But perhaps even more troubling is the unequal burden of these effects — climate change doesn’t hit everyone the same way.
The social dimension of the climate crisis is especially stark. Those with fewer resources, such as older adults and marginalized groups suffer disproportionately. A flood is far more devastating for residents of cramped, semi-basement homes in the outskirts of Seoul than for those living in high-rise apartments in Gangnam. Similarly, the heatwave is far more dangerous for immigrant laborers working outside with little shade or legal protection than for office workers enjoying air-conditioned comfort. These inequities reveal how climate change compounds existing social vulnerabilities, turning environmental hazards into questions of justice.
Given the seriousness of the threat, it should be self-evident that climate response must be a top national priority. To Korea’s credit, local governments and cities are beginning to implement measures such as green urban planning, renewable energy initiatives and climate education programs. Recycling, too, is an area where Korea performs remarkably well, probably among the best in the world.
But when it comes to overall national performance, Korea is falling behind. The Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI), a widely recognized global tool that ranks countries on climate action, places Korea near the bottom across key categories, including renewable energy use, emissions reduction and climate policy. This is striking for a country that is the world’s ninth-largest emitter of carbon dioxide.
Korea has every reason to step up. With its growing global profile in everything from semiconductors to pop culture, the country has the resources, technology and influence to be a leader in climate action. Why not channel some of that national ambition into fighting the climate crisis? The investment would not only align with Korea’s global status but also help secure a more just and livable future for all its citizens.
What’s also missing in public discourse is a meaningful conversation about how to protect those most vulnerable to climate change. There is little focus on climate equity — on how to ensure the elderly, poor, disabled and migrant communities aren’t left to fend for themselves as the climate worsens. Their suffering is increasing, even though they contributed least to the problem. It’s a cruel irony: Those who have done the least to drive global emissions — disadvantaged communities in Korea and developing nations worldwide — are the ones bearing the brunt of climate disasters.
I know the gentle summers and light rains of my youth in Korea will likely not return. That climate has already been lost. But I believe a better, more resilient future is still within reach. Through smart policy choices, targeted protection for vulnerable groups and a genuine national commitment to sustainability and justice, Korea can lead by example.
Let’s make Korea cool not only in terms of pop culture, but also in terms of temperature. It would be more just and compassionate — for ourselves, and for our neighbors.
Min Seong-jae (smin@pace.edu) is a professor of communication and media studies at Pace University in New York.