An assistant professor conducted a study in which he lived among one of the poorest, most marginalized communities in Seoul, South Korea. In the ethnographic study, he asked residents how they dealt with extreme heat. He found they tended to accept the conditions, stating there was not much that could be done. That shows people accepted extreme climate events, despite evidence showing this should not be normal, which bodes the argument social work as a field has much to do to help address climate emergencies.
Locations around the globe are experiencing climate disasters on a regular basis. But some of the most marginalized communities are the most affected. This was evident in a study conducted by an assistant professor who lived among the poor in Seoul, South Korea. The residents accepted extreme heat as a normal part of their lives, despite evidence showing this should not be the case. This highlights the need for social work to address climate emergencies.Many of the most marginalized groups are so accustomed to experiencing disasters that it has become a normal part of their lives.
A recent study conducted at the University of Kansas discovered that residents of a neighborhood in Seoul, South Korea have become so used to facing extreme weather events that they have developed a “disaster subculture.” This subculture challenges traditional views of reality and raises questions about how social agencies can provide assistance.
Joonmo Kang, an assistant professor of social welfare, spent a year living in Jjokbang-chon, a highly impoverished neighborhood in Seoul, as part of an ethnographic research project. Residents of the area regularly endure extreme temperatures, both hot and cold.The study, which was published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, focused on the experiences of residents living in small 70-square-foot units. Over the course of a year, the researcher interviewed the residents and collaborated with local social agencies to better understand how they supported the residents.
Residents often expressed a sense of indifference to extreme heat and climate change, feeling like they had no options or that every day was a disaster. This disconnect from reality could be influenced by various factors, but it highlights the challenge for social work in responding to climate disasters and their ongoing impacts.The Journal of Social Welfare, is a part of Kang’s extensive work in climate justice and eco social work. His goal is to gain a better understanding of how climate change impacts specific groups and populations, and how social work can address these challenges. “For this paper, I aimed to shed light on the experiences of living in so-called slum housing in Seoul, South Korea, my home country,” Kang explained. “But heat and climate disasters are not limited to there; they occur throughout the Global North, including in the wealthiest countries. I want to explore how this affects the lives of the most marginalized communities.” In his ethnographic study, KAng conducted informal conversations and semi-structured interviews with the residents of Jjokbang-chon. One resident shared that he remains still and tries not to move during the hottest times. Others mentioned that they chose not to go to government-provided cooling centers because of the distance and the effort required to get there outweighed enduring the heat.
“Throughout the year, all four seasons are filled with distress; every day feels like a disaster. When every day is like that, when every day feels like a disaster, when our daily lives are a disaster, the weather doesn’t matter. It’s not just about summer or winter, It becomes particularly difficult,” one resident commented.
Other residents mentioned that living in a jjokbang was preferable to their previous experiences of homelessness. Despite not being allowed to install cooling systems beyond fans by landlords, and the facilities not being equipped to handle them, residents appeared to reluctantly accept living in extreme conditions.
“This study focused on how people interpret extreme weather. The results showed that they developed a ‘disaster subculture,'” Kang explained. “When they go through this, it causes them to perceive a sense of normalcy. One of the main things I discovered was that even though it has been challenging for them, they have become accustomed to it.
Recently, people have described these living conditions as extremely difficult, with some saying “It is what it is.” This statement really stood out to me.
Adapting to what seems like an unbearable environment may be hard to understand, but a community organizer who works with the Jjokbang-chon population provided insight into why residents may express such acceptance.
“It might also be their way of telling us, ‘I am trying my best to adjust,’ and at the same time even though they have a desire to get out of here, they might just be saying that because they don’t have the resources or the means to turn things around,” the organizer said. “Being stuck inIn this extended period, individuals may have become accustomed to their circumstances or developed a tolerance due to their inability to change their situation, resulting in a feeling of resignation and acceptance.” The social work field has a duty to assist the most vulnerable populations, Kang emphasizes, and gaining insight into their experiences is crucial for effective assistance. Kang likened this scenario to the metaphor of the boiling frog, where a frog in slowly heated water does not react until it is too late. Similarly, individuals enduring extreme conditions may become desensitized to their circumstances.exposed to trauma for extended periods, but unlike the frog, can provide valuable insight into how to tackle the problem.”
“Their perceptions of vulnerability and reality did not seem to match what was objectively true. This demonstrates the need to address the everyday reality and underlying causes of why people are living in these circumstances.”
In his ongoing and future work, Kang expressed his intention to further investigate how to advocate for and empower marginalized communities to address climate issues that directly impact them on a daily basis.
“Those who have firsthand experience know best. They have the power to act, and it’s crucial that we listen to them,” Kang explained. “I believe it can be a way to address the issue.”
It is important to listen to what people want and need and work with them to address climate-related issues to avoid wasting money and effort.
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