Seoul Gangseo-gu Operates 28 Heat Relief Shelters

Operating from 9 AM to 6 PM on weekdays... Strict adherence to daily quarantine rules including designation of quarantine manager and wearing masks

[Asia Economy Reporter Jong-il Park] Gangseo-gu, Seoul (Mayor Noh Hyun-song) is operating heatwave shelters throughout the district to ensure residents can spend a safe summer in preparation for the full-scale heatwave this summer.

The district operates a total of 28 heatwave shelters, including 20 at community service centers, 6 outdoor heatwave shelters, and 2 nighttime safety accommodations.

Especially this year, considering the COVID-19 situation, instead of using senior centers as heatwave shelters, outdoor heatwave shelters have been installed in the yards of six comprehensive social welfare centers: Deungchon 1, 4, 7, 9 Comprehensive Social Welfare Centers and Banghwa 6, 11 Comprehensive Social Welfare Centers, operating from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays.

The outdoor heatwave shelters are equipped with shade tents, coolers, and large fans so that residents can rest away from the heat.

The community service center heatwave shelters also operate from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays, and when a heatwave advisory or warning is issued, the operating hours are extended to 9 p.m. on both weekdays and holidays.

In addition, the district has signed agreements with two local lodging businesses to operate 'Heatwave Safety Accommodations' until August 31.

The target users are low-income elderly living alone aged 60 or older without air conditioning at home or those who have difficulty receiving family care, including elderly couples.

The district has designated quarantine managers at all heatwave shelters to strictly follow daily quarantine rules such as ventilation every two hours, maintaining visitor logs, temperature checks, hand sanitizer guidance, and maintaining a 2-meter distance between users to ensure a safe resting space from COVID-19.

Mayor Noh Hyun-song said, “We expect the heatwave shelters to provide a comfortable and safe resting space for residents struggling with COVID-19 and the heatwave,” and added, “We ask residents using the heatwave shelters to strictly follow quarantine rules such as wearing masks.”