As a heat wave continues, the internal temperatures of major subway stations in Seoul have been found to rise above the outside temperature. Above-ground stations without cooling have seen temperatures rise close to 40 degrees, and several underground stations without cooling facilities also exceeded 30 degrees.
According to data submitted by Kim Ji-hyang, a Seoul city council member from the People Power Party, the internal temperatures of a significant number of stations have exceeded the standard of 29 degrees. Seoul Transportation Corporation provided measurements of the temperatures at 17 stations, including Seoul Station on Line 1, City Hall Station and Ahyeon Station on Line 2, Ok-su Station and Express Bus Terminal Station on Line 3, and Sadang Station on Line 4, taken at 8 a.m., 3 p.m., and 6 p.m. from the 22nd to the 24th to Council Member Kim.
According to the data, Ok-su Station on Line 3, which is an above-ground station without cooling facilities, recorded 39.3 degrees at 3 p.m. on the 24th. It was 38.1 degrees at 6 p.m. The internal temperature of Seongsu Station on Line 2, also an above-ground station, rose to 39 degrees by 3 p.m. on the 24th, while it was recorded at 38.3 degrees at 6 p.m. Council Member Kim said, "Citizens are experiencing 'sauna stations.'"
It was hot in the underground stations as well. Ahyeon Station on Line 2, an underground station without cooling facilities, was 30 degrees at 8 a.m. on the 24th, and it was 31 degrees at 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. Hansung Univ. Entrance Station on Line 4 recorded 31.6 degrees at 6 p.m. the same day. Seoul Station on Line 1, which is equipped with cooling facilities, was also recorded at 30.5 degrees at the same time.
Council Member Kim noted, "While underground stations generally have lower temperatures compared to above-ground stations, the enclosed interiors can cause air stagnation, making the discomfort from the heat even more severe."