Extreme heat has emptied outdoor traditional markets in Seoul and triggered a sharp rise in vegetable prices known as “heat-inflation” [1].
This trend threatens the livelihoods of small-scale vendors and disrupts local food security as extreme weather directly impacts both the supply chain and consumer behavior.
At Seoul’s Yeongcheon market, temperatures reached 38°C [1]. The intense heat has discouraged shoppers from visiting outdoor spaces, leaving many market alleys empty. Some stalls have been forced to close entirely as foot traffic plummeted during the day.
Vendors are struggling to keep their produce from spoiling in the scorching weather. Many have resorted to using large quantities of ice and electric fans to maintain the freshness of their goods [1]. Despite these efforts, the heat has slowed vegetable harvests and shipments, reducing the overall supply available to the city.
This supply shortage has led to a surge in prices for essential vegetables. The phenomenon, termed “heat-inflation,” reflects the direct link between rising temperatures and the increasing cost of food [1].
Merchant Hwang Seong-sun, who works at the Yeongcheon market, described the lack of customers. She said that people are completely gone and that while some visit briefly in the morning to buy necessities, the markets remain deserted during the day [1].
Reporter Park Ki-wan of YTN said that the market alleys were empty under the 38°C heat [1]. The situation highlights the vulnerability of traditional open-air commerce to volatile weather patterns, as the lack of climate control makes these hubs susceptible to immediate economic shocks when temperatures spike [1].
““People are completely gone,” said merchant Hwang Seong-sun.”
The emergence of 'heat-inflation' in Seoul demonstrates how climate volatility creates immediate economic pressure on the most vulnerable parts of the supply chain. Because traditional markets lack the industrial cooling infrastructure of modern supermarkets, they suffer a double blow: a decrease in customer foot traffic and an increase in product spoilage. This suggests that urban food security in South Korea may increasingly depend on the ability of traditional vendors to adapt to higher baseline temperatures.
