Seoul to install urban shade structures to combat extreme heatwaves
The Seoul Metropolitan Government on Wednesday announced a new urban initiative to establish the ‘right to shade’ as a fundamental city policy, according to a report by The Korea Times.
The plan aims to guarantee shaded and continuous pedestrian routes throughout the capital, making access to coolness an essential public service rather than a privilege based on geographical location.
After running a pilot programme in 10 districts next year, the city government plans to implement the initiative across the entire city starting in 2028.
‘Heatwaves are no longer merely a temporary inconvenience that residents can endure for a few days. As their intensity and duration increase, heatwaves have now become a routine disaster that threatens the lives and safety of residents,’ said Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon at a press conference.
Through this framework, the city government will connect various shaded spots, such as broad-canopy trees, building shadows, folding tents, canopies, and parks, into uninterrupted pedestrian corridors linking residential areas with underground railway stations, schools, markets, and hospitals.
The initiative comes amid a sharp rise in heat-related casualties across South Korea.
According to the Ministry of the Interior, as of Monday (17 August), 31 people had died from heat-related illnesses nationwide this year, exceeding the total of 23 deaths recorded throughout last year.
In addition, 3,439 people have suffered from heat-related illnesses this year.
A city government study of more than 67,000 pavements in Seoul revealed that pedestrian walkways are exposed to direct sunlight for an average of four hours and 21 minutes each day, with direct sunlight exposure exceeding six hours on nearly 28 per cent of road sections.
Data from the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) shows that roads and pavements are the most common locations causing heat-related illnesses in Seoul, accounting for 31.4 per cent of reported cases between 2023 and 2025.