"Emergency Response to This Summer's Heatwave" ... Government Provides 5 Billion Won in 'Disaster Safety Special Tax Grants' Support

Ministry of the Interior and Safety and 17 Cities and Provinces Hold Disaster Preparedness Inspection Meeting on the 12th

On the 9th, when a heatwave advisory was forecasted across the country, a citizen on their way to work near Jamsil Station in Seoul is shielding their eyes from the sunlight with both hands. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Jo In-kyung] As hotter-than-average weather is expected this summer, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety announced on the 11th that it will urgently provide 5 billion KRW in special disaster safety grants to ensure that local governments' heatwave countermeasures proceed without disruption.

By local government, the allocations are as follows: Seoul 410 million KRW, Busan 440 million KRW, Daegu 310 million KRW, Incheon 260 million KRW, Gwangju 190 million KRW, Daejeon 160 million KRW, Ulsan 160 million KRW, Sejong 100 million KRW, Gyeonggi 560 million KRW, Gangwon 210 million KRW, Chungbuk 310 million KRW, Chungnam 250 million KRW, Jeonbuk 280 million KRW, Jeonnam 440 million KRW, Gyeongbuk 400 million KRW, Gyeongnam 390 million KRW, and Jeju 130 million KRW.

In particular, this year, due to concerns about COVID-19 infection, operating indoor heatwave shelters has become difficult, so the plan is to implement heatwave countermeasures in accordance with quarantine guidelines, such as operating outdoor heatwave shelters. Various cooling supplies will also be provided to heatwave-vulnerable groups and COVID-19 screening clinic workers.

In this regard, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety will hold a "Comprehensive Inspection Meeting on Summer Disaster Preparedness" at 11 a.m. on the 12th, chaired by Kim Gye-jo, Director of the Disaster and Safety Management Headquarters, with attendance from the Korea Meteorological Administration and disaster safety directors from 17 cities and provinces nationwide. At the meeting, summer weather forecasts and possible variations such as heavy rain and heatwaves will be shared, and the emergency response status in wildfire-affected areas and progress on flood recovery projects will be reviewed.

Additionally, plans to expand outdoor heatwave shelters using village pavilions and shade structures, protection measures for vulnerable groups such as residents of jjokbangchon (small-room villages), and safety measures for COVID-19 screening clinics operated by local governments will also be discussed.

Minister Jin Young of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety stated, "We will spare no administrative and financial support to minimize casualties and property damage caused by recurring heatwaves and heavy rains every summer, and especially to ensure that the elderly, disabled, and COVID-19 screening clinic workers do not suffer hardships due to the heatwave."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.