A poignant post, @slowwalker. As we say in Toronto, it's not the heat, but the humidity. We are on the shore of Lake Ontario and the humidity can make an 80 degree day feel like 100.
The saving grace is that we are called the city of trees. We are often compared to New York and many movies that are supposedly made in New York are shot here. But, unlike New York, we have an urban forest - a lovely tree canopy
You should visit. We have the fourth-largest Korean diaspora population in the world.
I agree with you about heat in the city. The population density and lack of space add to the heat emanating from the concrete and the industrial pollution. I often observed that you can have poverty in the countryside, but not squalor, slums or intolerable living conditions. The trees purify the air and the open spaces allow the Earth to breathe.
Your photos document the hidden side of the city - believe it or not, it was worse in the early 1900's with telegraph and telephone lines and electrical wires strung up on poles everywhere.
I noticed from your past posts that Seoul is making strides in creating pedestrian walkways and car-free zones, so perhaps things are slowly getting better.
An insightful post, @slowwalker
Thank you for your thoughtful comment
you're very welcome, @slowwalker