Lee Soyoung and Lee Haesik "Museums and Art Galleries Should Be Opened Free of Charge During Heatwave Warnings"

Lee Haesik, Spokesperson of the Democratic Party of Korea / Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Cheol-eung] There has been a call to open museums and art galleries free of charge when a heatwave advisory is issued. This demand came alongside the proposal of bills that define heatwaves as major disasters and mandate the suspension of work for laborers during heatwaves.

Democratic Party lawmakers Lee So-young and Lee Hae-sik announced at a press conference on the 21st, "We are jointly proposing three laws to prevent heatwave damage by defining heatwaves as major disasters: the Disaster and Safety Act, the Natural Disaster Countermeasures Act, and the Industrial Safety and Health Act."

They stated, "This summer, compounded by the unprecedented infectious disease COVID-19, there is growing concern that without proper preparation, the damage could be beyond imagination. We must manage heatwave-vulnerable groups, such as those with underlying health conditions and the elderly, more carefully due to physical as well as social and economic factors."

They also emphasized the need to improve the working conditions of on-site laborers directly exposed to heatwaves, as well as mobile workers such as postal workers, delivery drivers, and couriers.

The amendment to the Disaster and Safety Act expands the scope of vulnerable groups not only by physical factors but also by social and economic factors. The amendment to the Natural Disaster Countermeasures Act designates areas where heatwave damage has frequently occurred or is likely to occur as habitual heatwave damage areas and requires the establishment of mid- to long-term measures to prevent damage.

The amendment to the Industrial Safety and Health Act mandates that when a heatwave occurs, the head of a metropolitan government orders employers to suspend work to protect the life and safety of workers exposed to heatwaves, and allows for partial or full support of wage reductions.

The lawmakers urged, "Even before the passage of the three heatwave damage prevention laws, we call for the government’s proactive and effective response to minimize damage to vulnerable groups," adding, "When a heatwave advisory is issued, free admission to national and public museums and art galleries nationwide should be considered. The government proposes outdoor cooling shelters as an alternative in case indoor cooling shelters are suspended due to COVID-19, but there are doubts about their effectiveness, and their number is only one-tenth that of indoor cooling shelters, which is insufficient."

They also demanded the provision of temporary housing facilities for housing-vulnerable groups such as residents of small rooms and support for cooling supplies for heatwave-vulnerable groups.

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