Korean Expat Community for National Disasters

Hello everyone, and welcome to my podcast. Recently, I read an essay about the 24 solar terms. The 24 solar terms are a traditional seasonal system that divides the year into 24 parts based on the position of the sun, and they have been used in Korea and other parts of East Asia. In Korea, where we have four distinct seasons, the 24 solar terms have served as an important guide not only for farming but also for everyday life. Each term appears about every 15 days and reflects small seasonal changes, such as the beginning of spring, the peak of summer, or the coldest days of winter. The reason I like this system is that it helps us notice seasonal changes that we might otherwise overlook in our daily lives. It allows us to find joy in these small changes. For example, one of the solar terms, Gogu, refers to the time when spring rain nourishes crops. This year, on April 20th, which was Gogu, it actually rained. It felt like a moment where the seasonal rhythm described by the 24 solar terms connected with real life. However, as I learned more, I also began to feel concerned. Because of climate change, the natural flow of the seasons is gradually changing. Spring is arriving earlier, summer is becoming longer, and winter is getting shorter. In fact, summer has become much longer than in the past, while winter has noticeably shortened. These changes make me feel like we are slowly losing the natural rhythm that we have followed for a long time. The 24 solar terms are not just a way to measure time, but a cultural system that helps us understand nature and connect it to our lives. Through them, people have been able to feel the flow of the seasons and find small happiness in everyday life. But now, that connection is gradually weakening because of climate change. That is why I believe climate change is not only an environmental issue, but also a cultural one. When the rhythm of the seasons changes, it also means that the small joys we once experienced may disappear. In the end, protecting the climate means protecting the rhythm of our lives. Although climate change is a large and complex problem, small actions in our daily lives still matter. As I mentioned in my previous podcast, this includes habits like using one tumbler for a long time and carrying my own reusable container. I believe that these efforts, when combined, will allow us to continue experiencing the changes of the seasons in the future. Thank you for listening.