Gwangju City Activates Emergency Response System for Heavy Snowfall and Cold Wave

Strengthening Snow Removal and Traffic Safety
Protecting Homeless and Vulnerable Elderly Groups

Gwangju City has activated an emergency response system to prepare for the combined effects of heavy snowfall and a cold wave. The city is focusing on snow removal, traffic safety, and the protection of vulnerable groups to ensure the safety of its citizens.

On January 21, Gwangju Metropolitan Government announced that it had activated an emergency response system for heavy snowfall and cold waves and is making every effort to secure citizen safety.

In the snow-covered downtown Gwangju, citizens are hurrying along wearing thick coats. Photo by Song Bohyun

The city has conducted advance inspections of snow removal equipment and personnel, and has completed preparations to immediately deploy snow removal vehicles and automatic brine spraying systems according to weather conditions. Deicing agents are being preemptively spread in areas prone to icing, such as bridges, tunnel entrances and exits, mountain passes, and back roads. Patrols have also been strengthened on major arterial roads and sections that are habitually prone to icing.

During snowfall, the city will carry out phased snow removal operations, focusing on rush hour periods when traffic volume is high. In cooperation with district offices and related agencies, the scope of snow removal will be quickly expanded to include residential roads and pedestrian walkways.

The city is also taking measures to protect groups vulnerable to cold waves. On-site inspections have been conducted in areas where homeless people are concentrated, such as Namgwangju Market, Gwangju Bus Terminal, Nongseong Station, and under Sangmu Bridge. The city checks on the well-being of homeless individuals daily and provides cold weather supplies such as hot packs. Temporary shelters are also being offered to those who wish, through the Dasiseogi Comprehensive Support Center.

For approximately 23,000 vulnerable elderly people aged 65 or older, around 1,000 life support workers check on their well-being and utilize emergency safety monitoring equipment to provide 24-hour monitoring.

About 1,400 locations, including local senior centers and banks, are being operated as cold wave shelters. If a cold wave warning is issued, five locations, including district offices and sports centers, will be operated as 24-hour emergency shelters for cold waves.