Large Protests in South Korea Demand Urgent Climate Action

By Sebin Choi and Daewoung Kim
SEOUL (Reuters)

More than 30,000 protesters gathered in South Korea's capital on Saturday, enduring high temperatures exceeding 30°C (86°F), to demand more aggressive government action on climate change. This protest is the largest demonstration of the year, causing major traffic disruptions in central Seoul.

The marchers held banners with messages such as "Climate justice," "Protect our lives!" and "NO to climate villain (President) Yoon Suk Yeol's administration." Environmental activist Yu Si-yun stated, "Truth is, without the air conditioner this summer was not livable and people could not live like people." She emphasized the urgency for systemic change as global warming poses a collective problem.

Organized by the 907 Climate Justice March Group Committee, the protest came after a recent top court ruling indicating that South Korea's climate change law is inadequate in protecting human rights and lacks sufficient targets for future generations. The plaintiffs include young activists and even infants, arguing that the government is infringing on citizens' rights by failing to address climate change effectively.

Despite aiming to be carbon-neutral by 2050, South Korea remains one of the largest coal polluters among G20 nations and shows slow progress in adopting renewable energy. Recently, the government reduced its 2030 greenhouse gas emissions targets while maintaining a 40% reduction goal from 2018 levels.

The impact of climate change is being felt even in South Korean cuisine, with farmers reporting declines in the quality and quantity of napa cabbage, a key ingredient in kimchi, due to the increasing heat.

Kim Ki-chang, a 46-year-old novelist and protester for three years, remarked, "This would be a much bigger threat and survival issue to younger generations than the older ones, so I think the older generation should do something more actively for the next generation."

This summer has seen record heat waves, marked by 20 consecutive tropical nights in Seoul where temperatures remained above 25°C (77°F). The protest was strategically held in the affluent Gangnam area to attract attention from major corporations blamed for their carbon emissions.