Gangbuk-gu Protects Seniors from Heat with 'Safe Accommodation'

Hotel Victoria, Rich Diamond Hotel, and Solarium City Hostel Sign Business Agreement... Use as Cooling Shelter for Elderly in Vulnerable Housing Groups During Heatwave Alerts

[Asia Economy Reporter Jongil Park] Gangbuk-gu (District Mayor Park Kyum-soo) will operate ‘Safe Lodging’ using private facilities until August to protect low-income elderly vulnerable to heat-related illnesses, as record-breaking heatwaves are expected this summer.

Currently, indoor cooling shelters are operating on a reduced scale due to the resurgence of COVID-19. Additionally, with the increased risk of infection among the elderly, the district has determined that separate heatwave evacuation facilities for seniors in isolated locations are necessary.

To this end, on the 13th, the district signed business agreements with three tourist hotels: Victoria Hotel, Rich Diamond Hotel, and Solarium City Hostel.

The district plans to manage the target groups by dividing them into three regional zones. Residents of Samyang-dong, Songjung-dong, Songcheon-dong, and Samgaksan-dong can use Victoria Hotel; residents of Suyu 1-dong, Suyu 2-dong, Suyu 3-dong, Ui-dong, and Insu-dong can use Rich Diamond Hotel; and residents of Mia-dong, Beon 1-dong, Beon 2-dong, and Beon 3-dong can use Solarium City Hostel. In total, 70 rooms across the three lodgings will be utilized as safe lodging facilities.

The eligible users are low-income elderly living alone or elderly couples aged 60 or older who have difficulty receiving care within their families. The district plans to allocate the number of users by neighborhood considering the number of basic livelihood security recipients, near-poverty groups, and elderly beneficiaries of customized care services, selecting candidates based on recommendations from neighborhood community centers.

When a heatwave warning is issued, eligible users can bring pre-distributed coupons and use the partner facilities.

Park Kyum-soo, Mayor of Gangbuk-gu, said, “With the overlapping challenges of COVID-19 spread and heatwaves, a difficult summer is expected, so protecting vulnerable groups must be our top priority. We will do our best to utilize community facilities and personnel to prevent any harm or inconvenience to residents.”

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