Cooling Air Domes and Shade Structures... Seoul to Greatly Expand Heatwave Mitigation Facilities

Full-scale Operation of Comprehensive Heatwave Response Plan
Installation of HappySo and Canopy-Type Shade Structures
Operation of 4,000 Heatwave Shelters
Step-by-Step Response According to Heatwave Alert Levels

The Seoul Metropolitan Government will expand the installation of heatwave mitigation facilities throughout residential areas in preparation for this summer's heatwave. Key examples include "Cooling Fog," which lowers the surrounding temperature with water mist, and "Cooling Road," which reduces road surface temperatures. In particular, new outdoor cooling shelters using air domes called "HappySo" and "canopy-type shade structures" will also be introduced.

On May 28, the Seoul Metropolitan Government announced that it will begin full-scale operation of its "Comprehensive Heatwave Response Plan" for five months, until September 30, to alleviate the urban heat island effect and minimize heatwave damage.

A bird's-eye view of HappySo, a heatwave mitigation facility. Seoul City

First, the city will newly install "HappySo (Happy+So)," an outdoor cooling shelter equipped with an air dome, at 14 major outdoor rest areas with high foot traffic, such as Gwanghwamun Square and Cheonggye Plaza. "HappySo" is a Seoul-style outdoor heatwave shelter (heatwave mitigation facility), with a name that means "a place to avoid the sun."

More shade for pedestrians will also be provided. The city will newly install "canopy-type shade structures" at 35 heatwave-vulnerable sites with heavy foot traffic but a lack of shade, such as Cheonggyecheon and Ttukseom. These structures will be placed along walkways to block direct sunlight. Additionally, 304 new "design shade structures" (fixed and smart types) will be added along roadsides, and 413 old or damaged ones will be replaced, bringing the total number of such structures in operation to about 5,000.

"Cooling Fog," which sprays water mist to lower the ambient temperature, will also be installed at 48 additional locations, expanding the total to 235 sites. These will be focused in areas with high pedestrian traffic, such as plazas, parks, and walkways.

"Road water cleaning," which is highly effective at alleviating the heat island effect, will be concentrated up to eight times per day when a heatwave advisory is issued. A total of 199 water cleaning vehicles will be deployed over 2,163 kilometers of major arterial and general roads, performing water cleaning once or twice daily during the hottest hours (10 a.m. to 3 p.m.).

The "Cool Roof" project, which involves applying solar-reflective paint to building rooftops to reduce indoor temperature increases, will also be expanded to 204 sites. This is expected to help reduce cooling burdens and save energy at facilities for vulnerable groups, such as older homes and welfare facilities for seniors and people with disabilities.

The city's primary heatwave shelters will total 4,078 locations. These will be designated and operated at accessible facilities in daily life, such as local community centers, district offices, and municipal youth centers, to provide a place for not only heatwave-vulnerable groups but also all citizens to escape the heat.

To ensure effective operation of the heatwave shelters, Seoul will form a "daily inspection team for each district's heatwave shelters" in cooperation with the 25 districts. When a heatwave advisory is in effect, the team will check shelter openings and operating hours by phone and through on-site visits, and manage the shelters to ensure citizens can use them without inconvenience. The city will also operate a tiered emergency response system to minimize heatwave damage. During the "Attention" stage, which is the normal period, a situation management task force will monitor risk signs; during the "Caution" and "Alert" stages, when a heatwave advisory is issued, both the city and districts will operate their respective "Comprehensive Heatwave Support Situation Rooms" and maintain a response system; and in the "Severe" stage, the "Heatwave Disaster Safety Countermeasures Headquarters" will be activated for an all-out response.

Han Byungyong, Chief of Seoul's Disaster and Safety Office, stated, "In preparation for the possibility of record-breaking heatwaves this summer, we will expand the installation of heatwave mitigation facilities throughout residential areas so that citizens can feel the difference in their daily lives. While strengthening on-site measures to reduce urban heat—such as HappySo, Cooling Fog, shade structures, road water cleaning, and Cooling Road—we will also operate a thorough protection system for vulnerable groups."

Operation of the cooling fog, a heatwave reduction facility. Seoul City

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.