A heat-saving app is gaining popularity in South Korea

A mobile app that helps protect against the scorching heat is gaining popularity in South Korea. The app helps pedestrians find the most convenient routes through shaded areas of the street.

The app, called "Geuneullo: Summer Routes for Walkers," recommends the "coolest" route based on the position of the sun at a given time, as well as the shade from buildings and trees. Users can also get additional information, such as the estimated time of arrival at the destination and the percentage of shaded areas along the route.

In addition, the app can show which seats on the bus receive the least sunlight, and which side of the subway car faces the sun, depending on the direction of travel. The app can offer routes not only for pedestrians, but also for runners, taking into account factors such as shade, distance, and the degree of slope on a particular section of the road.

"Geuneullo: Summer Routes for Walkers," which was released on July 18, is now available on the App Store for Apple devices, while an Android version is still in beta. As of Wednesday, August 5, it has surpassed Google Maps, Kakao Map, and Naver Map to become the top free navigation app on Apple.

The app was developed by Yoo, a 23-year-old student studying mathematics and venture business at Seoul National University. He used data from the OpenStreetMap open-map platform to identify shaded areas based on the movement of the sun, the user's location, and the time of day, as well as city data on buildings, roadside trees, and public transportation.

Yoo said the idea for the project came after he himself experienced the daily challenges of commuting to work and school in the scorching summer heat.

South Koreans have been suffering from an unusually hot summer for days. Local media have been sharing videos of people flocking to waterfronts, shopping malls and other air-conditioned public spaces to cool off. The extreme heat has reportedly killed more than 20 people.