Geumcheon District Expands Operation of Heat Relief Shelters Amid Heatwave

14 Additional Public Facilities Opened as Heat Relief Shelters
Geumcheon District Expands Safe Spaces for Residents Amid Record Heatwaves

Geumcheon District in Seoul (Mayor Yuseong Hoon) has taken steps to ensure residents' safety by adding more heat relief shelters in response to record-breaking heatwaves. On August 24, the district announced that it will operate a total of 107 heat relief shelters, expanding from the existing 93 by opening 14 additional locations.

Yuseong Hoon, mayor of Geumcheon District Office, is visiting a heat relief shelter and listening to residents' opinions. Provided by Geumcheon District.

Heat relief shelters are spaces where anyone can temporarily escape the heat and stay to prevent heat-related illnesses during the summer. Public facilities such as government offices, community centers, and libraries, as well as community-based facilities like senior centers, are mainly used for this purpose. In particular, the shelters have been enhanced to provide tailored support for vulnerable groups.

Since August 2, the district has opened 8 additional public facilities, followed by the Geumcheon Garden Support Center on August 20, and 5 more public facilities from August 23. Notably, 8 of these shelters will extend their operating hours and remain open on weekends and public holidays when heatwave warnings are issued, allowing residents to safely take shelter even during nighttime heatwaves.

Additionally, the number of "night bathhouses" has been increased from 2 last year to 9 this year, offering residents a cool place to escape the heat. The district has also partnered with local lodging businesses to secure 3 safe accommodations and is operating dedicated shelters for mobile workers.

Private sector participation is also ongoing. In cooperation with the Geumcheon branch of the Korea Association of Realtors, 13 local real estate offices have been opened as "heat relief rest spaces." The district operates inspection teams for the heat relief shelters, checking at least once a day during heatwave warnings to ensure proper operation and opening status. The locations and operating hours of the shelters can be found on the Seoul Disaster Safety Information Portal, "Seoul Safety Nuri."

Mayor Yuseong Hoon stated, "As the intense heat continues, we are preparing so that every resident can safely escape the heat at convenient locations in their daily lives," adding, "We plan to secure additional public facilities that can be opened as heat relief shelters."