Jongno-gu Responds to Extreme Heat Emergency Alert... Cooling Centers and Safe Accommodations Now Operating

450 Staff Mobilized to Emergency Duty at Integrated Heatwave Support Headquarters

Jongno-gu in Seoul (Mayor Yoo Chanjong) has activated its emergency response system following the issuance of the highest-level heatwave alert—an extreme heat emergency alert. On August 5, the district held an emergency meeting presided over by the mayor, mobilized 450 staff members at the integrated heatwave support headquarters situation room, and entered emergency duty.

The district will send disaster safety texts every day at 10 a.m. and push forward with the operation of cooling centers, support for safe accommodations for vulnerable groups, and the expansion of heat mitigation facilities.

Yoo Chanjong, Mayor of Jongno District (left), held a countermeasure meeting on the 5th following the issuance of a severe heatwave warning. Provided by Jongno District.

Cooling centers will be operated at 115 locations—including the district office, local community centers, libraries, senior centers, welfare centers, shelters for residents in small rooms, sports facilities, and financial institutions—until September 30. Among these, 45 senior centers will be open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays. With the alert now in effect, the district office’s cooling center will be open 24 hours, while cooling centers at local community centers will remain open until 9 p.m. on weekdays and additionally from noon to 6 p.m. on weekends and holidays. This year, nine district-run libraries have newly been designated as cooling centers.

In July and August, "safe accommodations during heatwaves" are provided for low-income and housing-vulnerable elderly households. The district, in partnership with Dongdaemun Hotel, offers vouchers for use and guides seniors living in small rooms, rooftop rooms, and study rooms to hotel guestrooms equipped with air conditioning. Each person can stay for up to 10 days.

Nighttime heat shelters and "cool cafes" for those living in small rooms are also being operated. The district has designated two private bathhouses—including Hyundaeok Sauna in Changsin-dong—as nighttime heat shelters, providing up to 20 bathing vouchers per day to residents of small rooms. The "cool cafes" for residents in small rooms operate as mobile coffee trucks, stationed on August 4 in front of the Donuimun shelter and, on August 6, near the Changsin-dong shelter, serving cold drinks to about 500 people across both locations.

Shade canopies have been installed at 91 crosswalk segments, and cooling fog devices that spray mist have been expanded—following last year’s introduction at Marronnier Park, this year they have been added at the fountain plaza of the Blue House Guesthouse. Eight water trucks are also deployed to clean 36.6 km of roadway across four routes, three to four times a day, between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.

The district is also providing behavioral guidelines—such as checking the weather frequently via social media and alert messages, drinking water regularly even without feeling thirsty, and refraining from outdoor activity during peak heat hours.

Mayor Yoo Chanjong stated, "Record-breaking heatwaves threaten our residents’ daily lives every year, so we are establishing an impenetrable defense network through cooling centers, safe accommodations, and mitigation facilities. We will diligently monitor sites to ensure that vulnerable groups, including seniors, can spend this summer safely. We are committed to implementing response measures that residents can truly feel, with no setbacks."

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