Korean Expat Community for National Disasters

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This June, Korea has been caught in a weather rollercoaster, swinging from intense heatwaves to sudden downpours all within days. As someone living and studying here, I’ve seen firsthand how this unpredictable climate is becoming part of our daily lives.

On June 16, the heat hit hard. Seoul recorded temperatures over 33°C, far above the seasonal average. Heatwave alerts were issued unusually early, and people were warned to stay indoors, drink plenty of water, and avoid outdoor work. Walking around felt like stepping into a giant oven, the air was heavy, the sun was relentless, and shade became precious. Friends told me they couldn’t sleep at night without the fan on full blast.

But just as we were adjusting to the heat, the skies opened up. In places like Busan and Gyeonggi Province, overnight rainstorms dumped more than 60 mm of water in a single hour. Roads were flooded, buses were delayed, and warnings flashed across every phone screen. The heavy rain wasn’t just surprising, it was overwhelming. In just one night, Busan recorded its highest June rainfall in years.

What made it more alarming was how quickly the weather flipped: from blazing sun to dangerous floods. This is what experts now call a “compound weather event,” where extreme heat and intense rainfall happen back-to-back, stressing people, infrastructure, and local communities. According to scientists, climate change is making these patterns more frequent. Warmer oceans and shifting air systems are creating more unstable conditions, meaning Korea and the world can expect more of this in the years ahead.

Authorities responded by issuing safety guidelines and canceling outdoor activities in schools and public spaces. Construction sites were told to enforce strict break schedules for workers, especially during the hottest part of the day. And for people like me, just walking to class or to the store now means checking the weather app every few hours.

This June has reminded me that climate change isn’t something distant it’s here. It’s in the heat we feel, the storms we dodge, and the air we breathe. As students, we might not be able to solve it alone, but we can stay aware, take care of one another, and keep asking how we can be part of the solution.