Jeonnam Province Takes Proactive Measures Against Heatwaves to Minimize Loss of Life and Property

Customized Management for Vulnerable Groups and Expanded Infrastructure
Strengthening Drone Patrols and Impact Forecast Notifications

Heatwave prevention mist spraying facility installed by Jeonnam Province. Provided by Jeonnam Province

Jeonnam Province has designated the period until September 30 as the heatwave countermeasure period and is implementing a comprehensive 2025 heatwave response plan aimed at minimizing loss of life and property damage.

According to the Korea Meteorological Administration and other sources, this summer is forecast to be hotter than usual, with heatwaves expected to start earlier. While heatwave alerts were typically issued in July during the 2010s, they have recently been moving up to June.

In response, Jeonnam Province plans to strengthen its heatwave response system across the board. The province will reinforce the heatwave response task force by adding a publicity and event management team to the existing general safety management, support for vulnerable groups, and facility safety management teams, thereby enhancing specialized functions in each area.

Drone patrol activities, which received a positive response in Goheung last year, will also be expanded to Naju, Hwasun, Yeongam, and other areas.

Additionally, in cooperation with the Korea Meteorological Administration, the "Direct Heatwave Impact Forecast Notification Service" has been expanded to all cities and counties. This service sends a KakaoTalk app message when a heatwave advisory or higher is issued in the area where a family member lives. It is expected to be particularly helpful in Jeonnam, which has a large elderly population, by helping families monitor the health of their parents.

Applications for the service can be submitted through the Korea Meteorological Administration's administrative website until June 15.

The three main vulnerable groups to heatwaves?farmers, field workers, and the socially disadvantaged?will be further categorized into 14 subgroups for customized safety management. Disaster safety assistants will provide tailored action guidelines for each sensitive group, and surveillance activities will be strengthened when heatwave advisories are issued.

The province will also expand the operation of cooling shelters to improve convenience for residents, and will continue to increase heatwave mitigation facilities such as shade structures and mist spraying facilities, with 76 new installations planned for this year.

Sector-specific response projects to prevent heatwave damage will be actively promoted. Major projects include: 12.4 billion won for the fisheries sector, such as the Abnormal Water Temperature Response Support Project; 6.5 billion won for the livestock sector, including support for livestock heatwave prevention facilities; 4.7 billion won for the agriculture sector, including support for horticultural disaster prevention facilities; 37.2 billion won for the forestry sector, including the creation of urban wind path forests; and 5.4 billion won for supporting vulnerable groups in the welfare and environment sectors.

In addition, to reduce the financial burden of property damage for residents, the province will provide substantial support for disaster insurance premiums, including 14.3 billion won for aquaculture disaster insurance, 8 billion won for livestock disaster insurance, and 167.7 billion won for crop disaster insurance.

Kang Younggu, Director of Resident Safety at Jeonnam Province, stated, "As heatwaves have become a part of daily life due to the climate crisis, proactive measures to protect the lives and property of residents are more important than ever."