A mat covers a storm drain in Dongjak-gu, southern Seoul. Covers are often left on drains to block sewer odors or prevent illegal dumping. (Lee Sang-sub / The Korea Herald)
A mat covers a storm drain in Dongjak-gu, southern Seoul. Covers are often left on drains to block sewer odors or prevent illegal dumping. (Lee Sang-sub / The Korea Herald)

진행자: 간형우, Chelsea Proctor

Why Seoul can’t shake its sewer smell

기사 요약: 서울의 하수구 악취는 하수관 내 유기물 부패와 복합식 하수관, 적은 강수량 등이 주요 원인으로 꼽힌다. 하지만 노후하고 복잡하게 얽힌 하수망을 전면적으로 개선하기는 어려워, 각종 대책에도 불구하고 악취 민원은 좀처럼 줄지 않고 있다.

[1] Occasionally, a sharp odor hits pedestrians as they walk along Seoul’s sidewalks. Although the smell often disappears within seconds, complaints have been repeatedly raised by residents and visitors.

odor: 냄새

pedestrian: 보행자

complaint: 불평

[2] Posts describing sudden bursts of sewer-like odors can easily be found in both Korean and international online communities.

burst: 터짐

[3] According to a 2025 report by the Seoul Institute, sewer-related smells account for about half of the city’s civil complaints regarding bad odors. While complaints declined after Seoul launched sewer odor reduction measures in 2015, they have since rebounded.

reduction: 축소

rebound: 다시 튀어 오르다. 반등하다

[4] The city has made efforts to tackle the issue for more than a decade, but the growth in complaints raises questions over whether it has been doing enough.

tackle: (힘든 문제·상황과) 씨름하다

기사 원문: https://www.koreaherald.com/article/10834570

[코리아헤럴드 팟캐스트 구독]

아이튠즈(아이폰): https://itunes.apple.com/kr/podcast/koliaheleoldeu-paskaeseuteu/id686406253?mt=2

네이버 오디오 클립 (아이폰, 안드로이드 겸용): https://audioclip.naver.com/channels/5404

팟빵 (안드로이드): http://www.podbbang.com/ch/6638


hwkan@heraldcorp.com