Inspection of 93,000 Cooling Centers Nationwide... Support for Spreading Outstanding Operation Cases

Preemptive Inspections Reveal Over 1,700 Deficiencies
Distinctive Cooling Centers Operated to Meet Local Needs

The Ministry of the Interior and Safety announced on June 11 that it is inspecting the management status of more than 93,000 cooling centers nationwide to prepare for potential heavy snowfall during the summer season.

The Ministry of the Interior and Safety, the Ministry of Health and Welfare, the Ministry of Employment and Labor, and local governments formed a central joint inspection team and conducted a preliminary inspection for about a month starting in April. As a result, they identified more than 1,700 deficiencies. Minor issues, such as missing guide signs, were addressed immediately on site, while ongoing improvements are being made for errors in location information and inconveniences in facility use.

The Ministry of the Interior and Safety plans to focus on monitoring and managing facilities operated through the voluntary participation of financial institutions and railway operators, as well as the extended operation of cooling centers during heat wave advisories.

There were also examples of distinctive cooling centers tailored to local needs. The Baebang Youth Freedom Space in Asan City, for instance, is equipped with facilities such as a dance studio, a table tennis room, and a reading room, and offers a variety of educational and cultural programs for students.

Cooling centers that provide careful consideration for mobile workers, who are particularly vulnerable to heat, are also notable. The Mobile Workers' Shelter in Seocho District, Seoul, is equipped with amenities such as fitness equipment, blood pressure monitors, and massage chairs. In addition, it provides labor and legal education and counseling to protect the rights and address the concerns of mobile workers.

Kim Yonggyun, Director of the Natural Disaster Division at the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, stated, "The government will continue to monitor the management status of cooling centers to ensure there are no inconveniences for users this summer, and will actively support the nationwide spread of outstanding local operation models."

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