Gwanak-gu, Full Efforts to Minimize Heatwave Damage in Summer

Community Centers, Senior Centers, and Welfare Centers Establish Cool Shelters to Minimize Heatwave Damage for Vulnerable Groups
Full Efforts to Protect Vulnerable Groups through Support of Cooling Supplies, Human Resources, and Smart Technology for a More Comprehensive Safety Net...Supporting Safe Summer for Residents by Operating Various Heatwave Reduction Facilities such as Shade Tents, Water Playgrounds, and Green Curtains

Nakseongdae Park Cooling Fog

Gwanak-gu (District Mayor Park Jun-hee) has established a comprehensive plan to minimize damage to residents caused by the summer heatwave and has entered an emergency response system until September 30.

According to the Korea Meteorological Administration, the average temperature this summer is expected to be higher than usual.

In response, the district has formulated the "2024 Summer Heatwave Comprehensive Plan," focusing on four key strategies: ▲ Establishing heatwave situation management and response systems ▲ Protecting and managing heatwave-vulnerable groups ▲ Ensuring safety management of vulnerable facilities ▲ Operating and expanding heatwave mitigation facilities.

First, the district will form a comprehensive support situation room to manage real-time heatwave situations and implement sector-specific heatwave measures during heatwave alerts, enabling rapid response in emergencies.

The district will also actively protect heatwave-vulnerable groups.

Through human safety networks such as Our Neighborhood Care Group and Life Support Workers, the district will identify vulnerable groups and check on their well-being. Visiting dedicated nurses will provide on-site, close-contact health management by visiting the homes of vulnerable groups to prevent heatwave damage in advance.

Additionally, the district plans to further strengthen the safety net for protecting heatwave-vulnerable groups by utilizing smart technologies such as the "Smart Check-in Service," which analyzes mobile phone call and reception history; the "Smart Plug," which detects changes in electricity usage; and the "AI Check-in Service," which sends AI-based check-in calls.

Furthermore, the district will provide cooling supplies such as cool mats, fans, and air coolers to vulnerable groups, strengthen patrols to protect homeless people on the streets during heatwaves, and enhance supervision and management for the safety of on-site workers at construction sites.

In particular, the district is also focusing on operating and newly expanding heatwave mitigation facilities.

To protect the elderly and vulnerable groups, the district has prepared 137 heat-relief shelters in easily accessible and open locations (▲105 senior centers ▲21 community service centers ▲7 welfare centers ▲4 safety lodgings). The shelters are operated as "general shelters," which run continuously depending on the heatwave situation, and "extended shelters," which operate longer during heatwave alerts.

During the peak heatwave months of July and August, the district plans to operate "4 safety lodgings" to protect low-income elderly households with poor living conditions or vulnerable to heat-related illnesses.

Also, the district operates a total of 87 smart shade shelters, including 11 newly installed recently, and 17 foldable shade shelters. Especially this year, 8 new shade bench shelters will be created for pedestrians vulnerable to heatwaves. The district plans to install additional smart shade shelters and benches by next month.

The district has also prepared recreational activities for residents to escape the heat in the urban area.

Last year, the water play areas received great responses from residents, and this year, the district plans to expand and open four water play areas within the district (▲Nakseongdae Park ▲Byeolbitnaerimcheon Stream ▲Gwanaksan Sillim Valley ▲Next to Sillim Valley) in July.

Additionally, during heatwave alerts, the district focuses on road water cleaning during peak heat hours (10 a.m. to 4 p.m.) to alleviate the urban heat island effect, operates cooling fog and water facilities in parks, creates green curtains and cool roofs, and establishes smart complex shelters, making multifaceted efforts to respond to heatwaves.

Park Jun-hee, Mayor of Gwanak-gu, said, "We will do our utmost to ensure that residents stay healthy and safe from the summer heat this year," and added, "We ask residents to familiarize themselves with heatwave preparedness guidelines and participate in having a safe summer."