Geumcheon-gu's Full Effort to Combat Heatwaves After the Monsoon Season

Comprehensive Heatwave Response Including Care for Vulnerable Groups, Operation of 108 Cooling Centers, and Road Watering Work

Geumcheon-gu (Mayor Yu Seong-hoon) is implementing a comprehensive heatwave response plan to ensure the safety of residents during the hot summer.

First, the Geumcheon-gu Disaster Safety Situation Room operates a ‘Heatwave Support Situation Room’ to oversee and coordinate heatwave countermeasures. Key measures include care activities for vulnerable groups during heatwaves, operation of cooling centers, patrol inspections of construction sites, inspections of gas and petroleum facilities, and road watering work.

A medical support system is established in preparation for heatwave situations, and disaster helpers are deployed to protect vulnerable groups.

When the daily maximum temperature reaches 33 degrees Celsius or higher, about 1,100 disaster helpers disseminate information and check on the welfare of approximately 4,000 vulnerable households, including elderly people living alone and persons with disabilities. If the daily maximum temperature reaches 35 degrees Celsius or higher, public officials at grade 5 or above visit elderly people living alone to check on their well-being.

Additionally, 108 locations including senior centers, welfare facilities, and community service centers are opened as cooling centers. The operating hours for cooling centers are from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays.

When a heatwave advisory is issued, 13 extended cooling centers (10 community service centers and 3 welfare facilities) operate. Extended cooling centers are open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekdays and from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekends and holidays.

Field workers at the district office and workers at public construction sites suspend work during peak heat hours and are guaranteed rest breaks. Private construction sites are also encouraged to provide rest during heatwave hours.

Joint inspections are conducted with related organizations such as the Korea Gas Safety Corporation and Seoul City Gas on energy supply facilities vulnerable to heatwaves, including gas and petroleum facilities. In addition, six water-spraying trucks are deployed to major roads to lower urban temperatures through watering operations.

Furthermore, Geumcheon-gu has established a heatwave task force and a communication channel composed of public officials at grade 5 or above to share heatwave countermeasure updates in real time and respond immediately to emergencies.

Mayor Yu Seong-hoon stated, “As the heatwave disaster crisis alert has been raised to ‘severe,’ stronger measures are necessary. We will maintain the heatwave response system and prioritize preventing casualties by focusing on safety management.”