Seoul Activates Heatwave Response System... Oh Se-hoon Orders Thorough On-Site Preparations

Protecting the Vulnerable and Mitigating the Urban Heat Island Effect
Operating 4,000 Cooling Centers... Introduction of "Happyso"
Coordinated Response System with Relevant Agencies at Each Stage

The Seoul Metropolitan Government is launching an all-out response to the heatwave. This measure comes as the end of the rainy season brings a forecast that temperatures in Seoul will reach around 33 degrees Celsius during the day this week, indicating the onset of a full-blown heatwave. Oh Se-hoon, Mayor of Seoul, instructed, "Strengthen protection activities and heat illness prevention guidance not only for vulnerable groups but also for outdoor workers, and thoroughly prepare so that on-site measures can be implemented immediately when a heatwave advisory is issued."

According to the Seoul Metropolitan Government on July 27, the city has established a comprehensive heatwave safety network throughout residential areas. In order to prevent casualties such as heat-related illnesses caused by the heatwave, the city is reinforcing tailored support and protection for vulnerable populations, including homeless individuals, residents of makeshift rooms, and the elderly.

On the 24th, after the monsoon season ended and the intense heat began in earnest, children are playing in the water playground set up at Gwanghwamun Square in Jongno-gu, Seoul under the blazing sun. 2024.7.24 Photo by Jo Yongjun

For the homeless and residents of makeshift rooms, emergency relief teams and special response units are currently in operation. In particular, the city is providing dedicated shelters for daytime and nighttime heat relief, allowing people to take refuge from the heat. Tailored protections are also being implemented, including distributing relief supplies and drinking water, as well as monitoring health conditions through home visits.

The city is strengthening regular check-ins for health-vulnerable groups, such as elderly people living alone, people with disabilities, and those with chronic diseases, and provides intensive management via phone calls and in-person visits when a heatwave advisory is in effect. For vulnerable seniors, social workers and life support aides call approximately 50,000 at-risk elderly individuals every day or every other day when alerts are issued. If they cannot be reached, a home visit is made to check on their health status.

For households facing financial hardship, the city provides support by linking the Seoul-type Emergency Welfare Program and energy vouchers. The support amount for the Seoul-type emergency welfare program has been increased by 120,000 won from last year to 1,990,000 won for a family of four. Additionally, the summer energy voucher benefit is automatically applied to electricity bills from July through September to relieve the burden of cooling costs for energy-vulnerable households.

Protection measures for outdoor and mobile workers who are directly exposed to the heatwave are also being strengthened. Targeted checks are conducted to ensure that employers at heatwave-vulnerable workplaces, including construction sites, public job sites, and environmental sanitation work, are complying with guidelines to prevent heat-related illness, thereby preventing accidents.

At construction sites, the city focuses on verifying the operation of rest facilities and the implementation of safety education for heat illness prevention. For mobile workers such as delivery drivers and designated driver service workers, 30 mobile worker rest shelters are being operated, and during the extreme heat months of July and August, operating hours are extended. The city is also providing approximately 100,000 bottles of iced mineral water to further prevent heat-related illnesses.

A safety network for the general public is also operational. More than 4,000 cooling centers are open across Seoul in places such as community centers, senior centers, and welfare centers. When a heatwave advisory is issued, weekday operating hours are extended, and additional access is provided on weekends and public holidays. On-ground stations at 21 aboveground subway stations on Lines 1–8 are operating 40 'Companion Shelters' for people to escape the heat.

During periods when a heatwave advisory is in effect, district government offices are open 24 hours a day. At a deputy district mayors' meeting on July 23, the city requested that district offices strictly observe these extended hours and make every effort to inform and manage the public at these sites.

To mitigate the urban heat island effect, the city has significantly expanded heat-reduction facilities closely connected to daily life, such as cooling roads, cooling fog systems, and shade structures. The number of 'cooling roads' in core sections, including from City Hall Station to Sungnyemun, will be increased to 19 locations, including new routes, with a total length extended to 5.67 kilometers. Fifty-three new cooling fog systems will be added to the existing 187. Shade structures are being increased at crosswalks, plazas, and parks, and any facilities that are old or damaged are being replaced.

The Seoul Metropolitan Government will continuously monitor weather conditions and immediately activate the 'Integrated Heatwave Response Center' at the city and district levels whenever a heatwave advisory is issued. The surveillance system for heat-related illnesses, linked to 71 emergency medical facilities, is also fully prepared. Mayor Oh emphasized, "I urge each department, head office, and district to take thorough precautions and ensure the highest standards of safety, so that no casualties occur."

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