korean summer Haiku

Korean Summers

Korean Summers
Hot sauna humidity
Long tropical nights

Author note:

I have suffered through many Korean summers off since 1979 when I first came in the last peace corps group to complete service in Korea, and more recently since I semi-retired to Korea in late 2016. This is probably my 16th Korean summer. Some things have improved – air conditioning is everywhere and drinks for the most part are safe to drink. But the summers seem longer than before, lasting from mid-June to mid-September, due to global climate change. The winters are shorter but more brutal than before, but less snow. And COVID restrictions made things difficult the last few years as well. Korea is drier than before, the monsoon season is shorter as well.