Seongdong-gu Launches 224 Cooling Spots (Heat Relief Shelters and Safe Lodgings) for Daily Life

Comfortable and Cool Summer Nights with Nearby Heat Shelter and 18 Hotel Rooms in the Area... 135 Crosswalks Equipped with Heat Shade Tents, 7 Water-Spraying Vehicles Regularly Cleaning Roads

A Smart Shelter to Escape the Heat

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] As the daytime outdoor temperature in Seoul soars up to 39℃, continuing the relentless "scorching heat," Seongdong-gu (District Mayor Jung Won-oh) has prepared 224 everyday cooling spots to escape the heat and has begun full-scale operation.

With the social distancing level raised to Stage 4, the cooling shelters at senior centers, which had been closed since the 12th of this month, resumed operation on the 22nd, activating 183 cooling shelters. Along with three safety accommodations used as nighttime shelters, 28 smart shelters and 10 outdoor shelters along the Jungnangcheon Stream walking trail are also operated as cooling shelters.

The main designated cooling shelter locations are senior centers, community service centers in each neighborhood, and welfare facilities, excluding nine libraries and Chaekmaru centers within the district.

Last year, there were only 84 shelters, but this year, the number has been significantly expanded by adding 160 senior centers, operating together with 17 neighborhood community centers and six welfare centers, providing residents with frequently used places as everyday cooling spots.

The shelters are equipped with air conditioners and supplies for quarantine measures such as visitor logs and temperature checks. They are ventilated every two hours and maintain a 2-meter safety distance to prevent COVID-19 while ensuring a comfortable and safe environment.

Safety accommodations will also operate during tropical nights. This month, the district signed agreements with local hotels and lodging facilities, which have seen a decrease in tourists due to COVID-19, securing 18 rooms divided into three zones for the convenience of elderly residents with mobility difficulties.

Residents aged 60 or older who live alone with low income in vulnerable housing environments such as semi-basements or rooftops, or households with members aged 75 or older, can use these accommodations for up to two days per person.

Cooling shelters operate on weekdays from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., with senior centers open from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. During heatwave warnings, community centers operate on holidays and weekends as well, extending hours until 9 p.m. Safety accommodations run from 9 p.m. to 8 a.m. the following day.

Additionally, 28 "smart shelters" equipped with "ultraviolet air sterilizers" that kill airborne viruses and "thermal cameras," along with real-time bus and subway public transportation information, are used as cooling shelters. Ten shaded rest areas along the Jungnangcheon Stream have also been prepared, allowing residents to avoid heatwaves and tropical nights in various daily life locations.

Meanwhile, refrigerators have been installed at five locations, including riverside walking trails frequently used by residents during the hot summer and screening clinics, providing 500ml bottles of cold water to quench the thirst of residents exhausted by the heat, gaining high popularity among many users.

Under the "Comprehensive Heatwave Countermeasures," the district has installed 135 heatshade tents at crosswalks, conducted regular road cleaning with seven water-spraying vehicles, and implemented heat rest time systems at construction sites to allow workers to rest adequately.

A total of 1,159 disaster helpers, including public officials, community leaders, village nurses, and local autonomous disaster prevention teams, have been organized to closely manage 1,841 elderly living alone in the area. Cooling shelters for the homeless are also operated, carefully caring for vulnerable groups during the heatwave.

Seongdong-gu Mayor Jung Won-oh said, "During this difficult time with COVID-19 and the heatwave, we have meticulously prepared measures for vulnerable groups," and added, "We hope everyone stays healthy this summer while complying with quarantine rules."

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