On Saturday, September 7th, over 30,000 protesters took to the streets of Seoul, South Korea’s capital, demanding stronger government action on climate change. The demonstration, one of the largest in the country this year, gathered individuals of all ages, causing traffic disruptions in the bustling Gangnam district. This demonstration, held on a scorching day with temperatures exceeding 30 degrees Celsius (86 degrees Fahrenheit), aimed to raise awareness about the pressing issue of climate inaction. The organizers strategically chose the Gangnam area, a hub for finance and shopping, to ensure their message reached major corporations they hold accountable for significant carbon emissions.
Waving banners with messages like “Climate justice,” “Protect our lives!” and denouncing President Yoon Suk Yeol’s administration as a “climate villain,” the protesters called for urgent reforms to address global warming. The protesters highlighted the urgency of the climate crisis, citing the record-breaking summer in Seoul where temperatures stayed above 25°C (77°F) for 20 consecutive nights, officially classified as “tropical nights.”
“This is a survival issue for younger generations,” said Kim Ki-chang, a 46-year-old novelist attending the protest for the third consecutive year. “The older generation should do more to protect the future.”
Yu Si-yun, an environmental activist and protest leader, echoed this sentiment, stating, “Without air conditioning, this summer would have been unlivable. This is a global crisis, and we are running out of time. We need systemic change now.”
The protest, organized by the 907 Climate Justice March Group Committee, follows a recent South Korean court ruling that criticized the country’s climate laws for failing to protect basic human rights and future generations. The lawsuit, filed by 200 plaintiffs, including young climate activists, accused the government of not doing enough to curb climate change.
Despite South Korea’s pledge to reach carbon neutrality by 2050, the nation remains the second-largest coal polluter among G20 economies, trailing only Australia. Critics argue that the government has been slow to adopt renewable energy and last year lowered its 2030 targets for reducing industrial greenhouse gas emissions, although it maintained its national goal of a 40 percent reduction from 2018 levels.
The effects of climate change are already being felt in South Korea’s agriculture. Farmers have reported a decline in both quality and quantity of napa cabbage, a key ingredient in kimchi, due to rising temperatures. The urgency of the situation is clear, and the protesters’ call for immediate action resonates with the growing global concern about climate change.
