Seocho District Launches Comprehensive Heatwave Response With Free Bottled Water, Parasol Rentals, and More

Seocho District in Seoul (District Mayor Chun Seongsoo) announced on August 3 that it is implementing practical, heatwave-focused measures for residents, such as the 'Seoripul Wondumak Saemmul' program, which provides free bottled water to pedestrians, and the 'Seoripul Yangsan Smart Rental Service,' which lends out parasols for free.

Seoripul Yangsan. Provided by Seocho District Office.

The 'Seoripul Wondumak Saemmul' initiative is a collaborative project involving the Seocho District Volunteer Disaster Prevention Corps and local small business owners. Each day, about 4,000 bottles of water are distributed across five high-traffic areas, with 700 to 1,000 bottles offered at each location: Yangjae Station, Seoul Arts Center, Bangbae Station, Seongmo Hospital Intersection, Seoraegol Park, and under the Yeoicheon Bridge on Yangjaecheon Stream. The district also worked in partnership with local supermarkets to purchase the bottled water, thereby linking the initiative to the local economy.

The 'Seoripul Yangsan Smart Rental Service,' which was the first in the country to install parasol rental kiosks along main roads last year, now operates at 24 locations in the district. Residents can borrow a parasol for up to 48 hours free of charge. For 2026, a simplified QR code login process was introduced. According to the district, as of July, the return rate stood at 98.6%, and 41.6% of users were men.

The 'Seoripul Wondumak,' a fixed-type folding sun shelter first introduced by the district in 2015—the first of its kind nationwide—is currently operating at 328 locations. Over the past ten years, these shelters have been installed mainly at busy intersections and crosswalks with high pedestrian traffic.

Alongside these efforts, the district is also working to check in on vulnerable groups, such as seniors living alone and homeless individuals, provide in-person health management for high-risk health groups, care for elderly residents using ICT solutions, offer cooling supplies, and expand the operation of water spray trucks on arterial and side streets. The district is also operating 'Seoripul Cooling Benches' and 'Seoripul Siwon-i' cooling facilities at bus stops, running the Seocho Eco Shelter, activating cooling fog systems in parks and along rivers, and conducting safety inspections at facilities vulnerable to fires.

District Mayor Chun Seongsoo commented, "We will actively pursue a variety of practical and resident-centered heatwave measures so that citizens can truly feel a difference during these prolonged hot days. We will continue to do our utmost to help residents stay healthy and overcome the heat."

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