In one of Seoul most impoverished corners residents of jjokbang-chon cramped windowless rooms often without basic amenities live quietly in the shadows of a rapidly developing city. These marginalized communities contribute the least to climate change, yet they endure its harshest effects. A new study from the University of Kansas exposes this stark climate injustice and calls for a shift in how the world addresses both poverty and the climate crisis.
Dr. Joonmo Kang, assistant professor of social welfare at KU, spent a year living inside this so-called “last remaining slum” in the heart of South Korea’s capital. His goal was to understand how climate-related disasters shape the lives of the poorest residents. What he found was not just poverty but systemic neglect, environmental vulnerability, and a glaring example of what experts now call the “carbon divide.”
“People here live with almost no access to heating or cooling,” Kang said. “They rarely travel, not out of choice but because they simply can’t afford to. And yet, they are the ones facing the most brutal impacts of climate change.”
Low Emissions, High Risk
Through interviews and surveys Kang and co-author Chris Weatherly from the University of Georgia calculated that jjokbang-chon residents produce less than 4 metric tons of carbon dioxide per person annually about onethird of South Korea’s national average, despite the country being among the world’s top carbon emitters per capita.
Their low emissions stem directly from poverty. Most residents live in poorly insulated micro-units, lack access to adequate heating or air conditioning, and limit travel due to cost. Yet, these same conditions low mobility, energy deprivation, and exploitative housing also make them more vulnerable to climate extremes like heatwaves, floods, and poor air quality.
And while jjokbang-chon residents emit far less than most South Koreans, their carbon footprints still surpass those of billions in the Global South. This reveals a deeper truth: reducing emissions while ensuring justice is no easy task.
Published in Ethics and Social Welfare, the study urges social workers to take center stage in the fight for climate justice. As trusted community advocates, they are uniquely positioned to give voice to the voiceless, challenge harmful development plans, and push for equitable climate solutions.
One example: efforts to redevelop jjokbang-chon neighborhoods are often stalled by private developers. Meanwhile, residents live in limbo. The researchers suggest a new path carbon-neutral public housing that protects residents while also reducing emissions. Social workers, they argue, must lead the way in turning this vision into reality.
“Climate action must include those most affected,” Kang said. “If we’re serious about justice, we need solutions that don’t just reduce carbon, but also reduce inequality.”
No One-Size-Fits-All Fix
The study makes clear that there’s no simple fix for climate injustice. But by centering community voices and empowering local leaders, progress is possible. Kang’s previous work also emphasizes this approach: real change begins with listening to those on the frontlines.
In jjokbang-chon, where the climate crisis meets daily survival, residents are showing that even those with the least can teach the world the most about resilience and the urgent need for a just response to a warming planet