"Protecting Against Heat and Flooding"... Ministry of Land to Renovate 318 Local Senior Centers and Libraries

Support for Green Remodeling of Public Buildings
85% of Projects Allocated to Areas Outside the Seoul Metropolitan Region
Specialized Spaces to be Created in Five Locations Including Jeju and Hwaseong

A total of 318 outdated and aging community libraries, senior centers, and other local facilities across the country will be transformed into spaces resilient to disasters such as heat waves and heavy rainfall.

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport announced on June 3, 2026 that it has finalized the selection of 318 aging public buildings for support under the "2026 Green Remodeling 2.0 for Public Buildings" project. A total of 535 buildings applied for the program, and the final selections were made after evaluating business feasibility, energy reduction effects, and whether climate adaptation technologies would be applied.

This project focuses on community facilities that residents use frequently. Of the 318 buildings selected, 217 are senior centers, accounting for 68.2% of the total. The list also includes 31 social welfare facilities, 18 elderly welfare facilities, and 13 libraries. By region, 273 buildings, or 85.8%, are located outside the Seoul metropolitan area.

Elderly people are gathered at a shelter for heatwaves and cold snaps. Photo by Jinhyung Kang

Green remodeling is a project that strengthens the insulation performance of old buildings and installs high-performance windows, high-efficiency heating and cooling systems, and renewable energy equipment to reduce energy usage. Starting this year, the program also covers flood control and drainage system upgrades to prepare for heavy rainfall, as well as the installation of leak and flooding sensors, wind-resistant glass, rooftop greening, and shading facilities for coping with heat waves.

The ministry has also designated five signature projects to enhance public awareness and engagement. The Jeju Museum of Contemporary Art will be equipped with a dehumidifying ventilation system and wind-pressure-resistant glass. The Hwaseong City Nest Narae Children's Library in Gyeonggi Province will introduce an AI-based building energy management system. The Suwon Lifelong Learning Center, Wonju Youth Culture Center in Gangwon Province, and Wuam Children's Center in North Chungcheong Province have also been selected as signature projects.

Jung Eekyung, policy chief at the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, said, "This project will serve as a catalyst for making green remodeling commonplace throughout society. By taking the lead in the public sector, we expect green remodeling to spread to the private sector and invigorate the regional green building industry."

For more detailed information on the public building green remodeling project, please visit the Green Remodeling Creation Center website operated by the Korea Infrastructure Safety Corporation.

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