Level 2 Response of Central Disaster Headquarters Activated Amid Severe Heatwave... Ministry of the Interior and Safety Intensifies On-Site Measures in Southern Region

Minister Ho-jung Yoon Inspects Southern Region Response

Additional 170 Million Won in Disaster Relief Support Funds

5.75 Billion Won in Special Disaster Grants for Drought Areas in Gyeongsangnam-do and Gyeongsangbuk-do

As the nationwide heatwave persists for an extended period, the government is further strengthening its coordinated, pan-government response.

On August 2 at 1 p.m., the Ministry of the Interior and Safety announced that it would activate Level 2 of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters (CDSCH) and expand on-site inspection systems focused on heatwave and drought response.

A disinfection vehicle is spraying water around the roof to lower the temperature at a livestock barn in Heunghae-eup, Buk-gu, Pohang-si, Gyeongbuk Province. July 30, 2026. Photo by Yonhap News

Minister Ho-jung Yoon of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety directed senior officials at central and local governments to conduct on-site inspections either weekly or daily.

In particular, directors as on-site general supervisors will be dispatched to both the Seoul metropolitan area and the southern region, while additional on-site situation managers will be deployed nationwide. This is to directly monitor the local response to the heatwave and assess specific support needs in each region.

Minister Yoon also conveyed a safety message to the public, urging people to refrain from outdoor activities and to halt work during the severe heatwave nationwide.

On this day, Minister Yoon visited the southern region, which has been experiencing worsening heatwaves and droughts simultaneously, to inspect the response efforts.

He visited a cooling center in Miryang City to check the status of air conditioning operations and to listen to any difficulties faced by the senior citizens using the facility.

Given the issuance of multiple "Severe Heatwave Warnings," mainly in the southern region, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety plans to provide an additional 170 million won in disaster relief support funds.

The regional support allocation will be as follows: 80 million won for Jeollanam-do and Gwangju, 20 million won for Busan, 20 million won for Ulsan, and 50 million won for Gyeongsangnam-do. These funds will be used for operating expenses such as cooling costs at cooling centers and for purchasing customized relief supplies for vulnerable groups, including fans, cooling mats, bottled water, and heatwave kits.

Minister Yoon then visited Geumsidang Recreation Area to receive a briefing on water safety management and inspected the deployment of safety personnel and the management status of safety facilities such as life jackets, lifebuoys, and ropes.

He emphasized, “Preventing water-related accidents begins with following basic safety rules, such as wearing life jackets,” and asked local managers to do their utmost on-site so that all visitors strictly adhere to safety guidelines.

The cracked bottom of Oryong Reservoir in Eonyang-eup, Ulju-gun, Ulsan City is exposed. 2026.7.31 Yonhap News Agency

In preparation for the prolonged drought, the Minister also conducted a thorough review of alternative water supply measures. These included operating tube wells and pumping stations, supplying river water directly, linking water resources between reservoirs, and securing water trucks and pumping equipment.

As areas such as Gyeongsangnam-do and Gyeongsangbuk-do face water supply difficulties due to insufficient rainfall and declining reservoir rates, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety plans to urgently provide a special disaster and safety grant of 5.75 billion won.

Minister Yoon stated, “Heatwaves and droughts are disasters that directly threaten not only the livelihoods of farmers, but also the daily lives of vulnerable groups, such as the elderly and outdoor workers.”

He continued, “Through operating Level 2 of the CDSCH, we will manage the response of central and local governments more thoroughly, provide necessary support quickly, and make every effort to minimize harm to the public.”

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