Seongdong-gu Fully Opens Heatshade Shelters Amid Early Heatwave

Operation started early from the 4th due to heat earlier than usual, scheduled to run until November
164 locations including traffic islands and traffic lights around Wangsimni Station installed to provide a safe and cool walking environment

Seongdong-gu, Seoul (Mayor Jung Won-oh) announced that it began operating heatwave shade shelters from the 4th of this month in anticipation of an early heatwave this summer.

Heatwave shade shelters typically start operating around mid-April, but due to recent weather exceeding 20℃ and an earlier-than-usual heatwave, Seongdong-gu started operating the shelters more than a week earlier than last year.

The heatwave shade shelters are installed in sizes ranging from 3 to 5 meters depending on the location's characteristics, and are placed on traffic islands and in front of traffic lights where there is no shade to block sunlight and provide cool shade while waiting at signals in preparation for the heatwave.

The operation period will last until November. In March, before the full-scale operation, Seongdong-gu conducted a preliminary inspection to check for any damaged or aged shade shelters and completed repairs such as parts replacement. Currently, all 164 heatwave shade shelters throughout Seongdong-gu, including the Wangsimni Station area, are in operation.

In case of expected typhoons or strong winds, the use of shade shelters will be immediately suspended, and weather changes will be monitored frequently to ensure operational safety. Regular inspections and maintenance will be conducted during the operation period to prevent any inconvenience to users.

Jung Won-oh, Mayor of Seongdong-gu, said, “When sunlight strongly shines on the roadside, the heat island effect can make children and the elderly more vulnerable, so I hope people can safely cool down from the heat in the heatwave shade shelters.” He added, “Seongdong-gu will continue to actively promote various projects to minimize residents’ inconvenience and protect safety from natural disasters such as heatwaves.”