Korean Expat Community for National Disasters

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I have lived in South Korea for long lifetime, I’ve witnessed our climate shift dramatically. I grew up taking pride in Korea's beautifully distinct four seasons, but that reality is rapidly blurring. In recent years, extreme heatwaves have become our new normal. The traditional, predictable monsoon rains have been replaced by sudden, violent "water bombs," and summer temperatures now frequently push near 40°C (104°F). The unrelenting humidity wraps around the city like a heavy wet blanket, making the reality of the climate crisis feel tangible every time I step outside.

Faced with this oppressive heat, the natural instinct in Korea is to seek refuge in one of our countless air-conditioned cafés. Like many of my peers, my daily survival mechanism became the "Iced Americano." It offered instant relief. But one afternoon, sitting in a crowded franchise café, I looked around. Almost every table was covered in single-use plastic cups, lids, and straws. I realized that the very convenience I was using to survive the heat was directly contributing to the climate crisis causing it. South Korea consumes over 2.5 billion disposable cups annually—a massive collective carbon footprint for our country.

That realization prompted a change: I started carrying a reusable metal tumbler. It seems like a small action, but in our fast-paced 'ppalli-ppalli' (hurry, hurry) convenience culture, it requires a conscious daily effort. I have to remember to pack it, carry its physical weight all day, and hand it to the barista in busy queues.

Yet, this small inconvenience has become my personal act of climate mitigation. Korea’s café industry is also adapting, offering small tumbler discounts (usually 300-500 won) and shifting to biodegradable straws. As someone who has spent my entire life here, it's a relief to see this positive push in our heavily caffeinated society.

The summers here will likely keep getting hotter. But carrying the weight of my tumbler gives me a different kind of comfort—the knowledge that I am taking a small, conscious step to break the cycle of waste in the place I call home.