From Water Playgrounds to Full-Scale Heatwave Response... Pohang, Gyeongsan, Cheongdo, and Yeongcheon Step Up for a Safe Summer

Hyeongsan River Outdoor Water Playground Opens in Pohang

Gyeongsan Issues First-Ever "Heatwave Emergency Alert"

Volunteer Activities Highlight Community Spirit in Cheongdo and Yeongcheon

Amid a prolonged spell of record-breaking heat, major local governments in North Gyeongsang Province are making every effort to ensure citizens enjoy a cool and safe summer.

The region's summer landscape includes the opening of urban leisure spots, outreach to vulnerable groups, and emergency responses to the first-ever issuance of a heatwave emergency alert in Daegu and North Gyeongsang Province.

The ‘Hyeongsan River Outdoor Water Playground,’ located along the Hyeongsan River in Yeonil-eup, Nam-gu, Pohang, officially opened on July 11.

Hyeongsan River Outdoor Water Playground in Pohang. Provided by Pohang City

This water playground, welcoming citizens until August 26, is one of Pohang’s signature urban summer destinations, equipped with various facilities such as a toddler pool, lazy river, event pool, and adult pool.

To maintain a comfortable environment and ensure safety, the water playground operates in two sessions—morning and afternoon—every day except Monday.

Each session is limited to 750 visitors, and advance reservations must be made through the Pohang Facilities Management Corporation website, starting at midnight five days before the desired entry date.

Pohang City plans to thoroughly prevent safety accidents by conducting daily facility disinfection, water quality management, and deploying safety personnel.

Meanwhile, some areas have declared emergencies due to the intense heat.

On July 12 at 10 a.m., Gyeongsan City raised its heatwave response system to the highest level after the Korea Meteorological Administration issued its highest-level ‘heatwave emergency alert’ for the first time since the system was established.

Yonggyun Kim, Director of Natural Disasters at the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, and Hyunil Cho, Mayor of Gyeongsan. Provided by Gyeongsan City

In particular, on July 11, the Hayang monitoring station in Gyeongsan recorded the nation’s highest temperature, underscoring the ongoing record heat.

In response, Kim Yonggyun, Director of Natural Disasters at the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, visited Gyeongsan to conduct on-site inspections of heatwave shelters, the disaster management situation room, and vulnerable farms.

Gyeongsan City is actively monitoring the well-being of vulnerable groups such as seniors living alone, utilizing its network of community support workers and voluntary disaster prevention teams. The city has also extended the operating hours of heatwave shelters into nights and weekends, deployed water-spraying vehicles early, and recommended suspending outdoor work to prevent heat-related illnesses.

Despite the heatwave, acts of warm-hearted volunteerism to support marginalized neighbors in the region have continued.

On July 13, to mark Chobok (the first of the three hottest days in the lunar calendar), the Saemaeul Women’s Association in Geumcheon-myeon, Cheongdo County, carried out a ‘village senior center noodle-sharing volunteer activity’ to wish local seniors a healthy summer.

Provided by Cheongdo-gun

The association members personally prepared and delivered noodles to each senior center, sharing their care and support.

In Imgomeon, Yeongcheon City, more than 20 members of the Saemaeul Leaders’ Association and the Nature Conservation Association joined forces.

Provided by Yeongcheon City

On July 11, they visited the home of a senior living alone, where household waste had been left unattended, worsening living conditions. Starting early in the morning, they sorted and disposed of waste and tidied up the surrounding area, playing a crucial role in maintaining a safety net for vulnerable residents.

Local government officials stated, “With this unprecedented heatwave, protecting the lives and safety of citizens is our top priority,” adding, “We urge everyone to minimize outdoor activities during midday and stay well hydrated, strictly following heatwave safety guidelines.”

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